By definition, esoteric is intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. And while this artwork is created for everyone to see, only few will understand the symbolism. We are looking at half female (left) and half male (right). The Human Being is Man-Woman. It is true that it may be in the "form" of a man or "form" of a women. But in both cases it is the female and male energy. If man, it will be more of masculine energy, but also have a female part (say 70% male and 30% female) and vice versa in the case of a woman. It could be said that the male energy is a pragmatic, mental energy, among its most abundant characteristics. And the feminine energy is more related to sensitivity, intuition and empathy. When separated they are both lame, but united they become perfection! Here we can see the feminine hand (left) and the manly hand (right). Apple is covered so that the spotlight for now remains on this topic. We can also notice the female breast and the male boob.
Imagine a bicycle, divided into the steel frame on one side and the wheels on the other, imagine the absurdity if one had to work by its self separate to the other. Imagine that each part of the bicycle was trying to be trying to be the most important part. The result would being a bicycle but in two separate parts with both wanting to transport a person (the iron frame on side and the two wheels on the other) but because of their unconsciousness and misunderstanding (promoted by the ego) they are not able to transport anyone. But if these two parts UNITE being aware that they are part of the same thing, it is then when they can realize their true purpose.
In this society if we think about, and in some countries more than others, but generally it encourages competition and therefore separation between the two!!! It’s as if to separate the wheels and the frame but still try to create the perfect bike. It is impossible! And then one party despises the other and vice versa without realizing that it means the bike can never ride!And that means that both energies, Men and Women, are equally important and it is the union and balance of both peace and harmony in humanity! One is no more important than the other, both are essential but its true power comes together to create the Harmony. At the end we understand that both women and men have to be in unity and harmony not faced with sexism or feminism. If we find that balance that is what will harmonize our homes, nations and planet. Here we see a serpent with a key-tongue. As your eye may have already caught the detail, the key would fit the symbolical apple from the Garden of Eden. It appears as if it unlocks something, it may even suggest, that it is a key to knowledge. Though the forbidden fruit in the Book of Genesis is not identified, popular Christian tradition holds that Adam and Eve ate an apple from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. The unnamed fruit of Eden thus became an apple under the influence of the story of the golden apples in the Garden of Hesperides. As a result, the apple became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man and sin.
However as with all stories, there is plenty of confusion and mixture. The main symbolism here is Knowledge, especially given the context of this artwork where we also have different elements that come together.
Many ancient myths tell of a huge terrifying serpent or dragon that guards the axis of knowledge (often depicted as a ladder, vine, cord, or tree). In fact, the same basic elements are repeated in mythologies around the world: serpents, water, ladders, ropes, trees, staircases, vines, and twin creator beings.
The cosmic serpent is androgynous, neither male nor female. In making the new gods, the patriarchy split the function of the old gods in two, so the new gods aren’t entirely whole. This is clear in the Eden story. Originally, the twin beings in the garden were one. Adam was an hermaphrodite who was split to make Adam and Eve. The Bible distorts the biological truth of life coming from the goddess (female), and inverts it with the idea of Eve being created from Adam’s rib. It actually says she comes from his ‘side’ and that’s been interpreted to mean his rib, but it really means Eve is one side of Adam, i.e. half of him: his twin. The serpent in the Eden story is now the bad guy, rather than the source of all life. Was tempted to make its eyes a bit more derpy, but I thought I should abstain myself from ruining it.
In some mystical traditions, the rising serpent is symbolic of rising kundalini energy. Rising kundalini energy is a Spiritual awakening that can bring forth healing, empowerment, knowledge and wisdom. The rising serpent has nothing to do with a reptile or animal. Rather, it is symbolic because the rising energy would appear as a serpent wrapped around and ascending a staff. Activated Kundalini energy and the power that accompanies it does not make a person more ethical or moral. Rather, choices are always there and it is the responsibility of the individual to use all of their power of all kinds wisely and compassionately.
It seems obvious that ancient priests and wise men must have had access to knowledge about Spiritual awakening, Kundalini energy, what it means and how it works. Those who didn't have access to the information or were incapable of understanding it, may have been tempted to worship the symbols rather than the substance of this ancient knowledge. Thus, a distortion was introduced and serpent worship and serpent cults came into existence. In the book of Genesis it is the serpent that tempts Eve to turn away from God and be tempted by the promise of power. Because of this, the serpent is seen as evil.
This is the story of the separation of the individual Spirit from Oneness with the Source, the Divine or God. The serpent, in this analogy, represents temptation, rebellion, selfishness and self aggrandizement. To "know good and evil" is to embrace duality rather than unity. To "know good and evil" is to embrace separation from the Source rather than maintain the Oneness with the Source. To "know good and evil" is to embrace limited thinking and a win/loose model of living and surviving.
The symbol of the serpent is seen again in the story of Moses and his relationship with the Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians were the descendants of a more ancient civilization that was far more enlightened, wise, powerful and knowledgeable than the Egyptians of Moses's time. While they were more corrupt and less wise and enlightened than their predecessors, the priesthood still had and used residual mystical knowledge and power. The symbol of the serpent was prominent in ancient Egypt. The uraeus was a crown in the form of a golden cobra worn by the Pharaoh. It later times, it symbolized the Pharoah's power and authority over the land and people. In earlier times, it symbolized the Pharoah's mastery of the kundalini energy, the power it represented and the Spiritual status of the Pharoah who was also the high priest. Depending on the time period and context, the serpent represented both good and bad: life energy, resurrection, wisdom, power, cunning, death, darkness, evil, and corruption. The term "Kundalini" comes from India and is a core concept in the yogic traditions. Kundalini is described as a sleeping, dormant potential force in the human organism. It is one of the components of an esoteric description of man's 'subtle body', which consists of (energy channels), chakras (energy centers) and prana or vital energy. The symbolic image is that of a serpent coiled 3 and a half times around a spine or central rod or staff. Through meditation, and various esoteric or yogic practices, the kundalini is awakened, and can rise up inside or alongside the spine. The progress of kundalini through the different chakras leads to different levels of awakening, mystical experience, purification and expression of spiritual powers.
So, how is the serpent symbolizing the Kundalini and spiritual awakening related to the serpent in the garden of Eden? The serpent in the garden of Eden represents separation from the Source and the emphasis of self-interest, rebellion against the oneness of all life and the seeking of personal power over others (the fall of man). The rising serpent as in rising kundalini represents the awakening of the individual and reconnection with the Source. The rising kundalini activates consecutively the energy centers (chakras) requiring them to purge their negative energies and destructive properties.
Clarifying a misconception
The fiery serpents biting and attacking the people is symbolic of the rebellion of the individuals from the Source or "against God" with the consequence that the Kundalini or serpent energy is misused and causes harm. The symbol of the brass serpent placed upon a standard or pole represents the rising of the Kundalini energy and the transformation or Spiritualization of the material or base energy. This is, in effect, healing the separation of man from Spirit or of man from God. This corresponds to a healing both Spiritually and physically. This symbol of a serpent rising and wrapped around a pole or staff is common in ancient Egypt and other areas. This same symbol is used today as the caduceus, the symbol of medicine and healing. Behind we can see a mixture of the brain organ and the Tree of Life, though it really looks like a tree-brain disintegrating, surely symbolizes something, doesn't it? :) Perhaps, I should leave some details unwritten for the esoteric connoisseurs.
