axis mundi

The initial inclination upon study of the spiritual conception of the Axis Mundi is to look externally for the answer. Eventually, you circle back around and will see the answer is within; curiously, you then see internally is everything that occurs externally, and with the help of a few good friends, you can find all that you need within yourself. There's no getting away free though as the dragon is also within and we can carelessly project that wrath and greed upon the world.

Who are you? You are the whole universe expressing itself from the standpoint of you being in the centre of it all. And you are doing just that at this very moment. In a spherical shaped construct every point is the centre; so, every position becomes the Axis Mundi on this particular blue rock twirling and whirling through space. Ritually, you can create and celebrate this centre and many ancient cultures founded their national identity upon this concept.

In pre-Columbian South America at Chavin de Huantar, the confluence of the Huachesca and Mosna Rivers was seen as a naturally occurring power centre and cultures converged upon this Axis Mundi from the coast, highlands, and jungle to give rise to a great period of peace and sharing. On the temple grounds, the stone idol called by archaeologists the "lanzon", is within the subterranean labyrinth and ritually represents this centre of the world.

replica from SpiritQuest of the Chavin lanzon

The chthonic aspects of the idol within the temple esoterically demonstrates for the initiate that within you can find the god as well. The Hindu Mount Kailash in Tibet is an Axis Mundi also where the holy family of Shiva and Parvati cradling Ganesha is pictured here.

The pillar was another way in ancient civilizations to represent the world axis. The worship of the regenerative phallus in the Ancient Greek mystery cult of Dionysos is representing this central pillar and this is also seen as the raising of the djed pillar in Ancient Egypt with Osiris.

Pharaoh Seti I raising the djed pillar at his temple in Abydos

The remembering of the god and enlivening him with life force power, represented here as being ithyphallic, is also re-establishing the Axis Mundi.

Regenerative Osiris/the eternal return

Other depictions of the symbolic centre in world mythology are the world tree which unites the sky, earth, and underworld; a vine or stalk reaching up to the heavens (think Jack and the Beanstalk); a ladder such as the one visualized by Jacob in Genesis; the omphalos at the temple of Delphi used by the oracle; Jerusalem -  the city of gold, along with Mount Zion, and various rods of healing such as the the serpent entwined rod of Asclepius with the snake acting as the guide to wisdom and knowledge contained within the iconic representation of the Axis Mundi. This cosmic axis is the link between heaven and earth and is often where the four directions of the earth emanate from, such as the four rivers that flow out of the Garden of Eden in the opening of Genesis.

Many civilizations thought of themselves as embodying this centre. China means "middle kingdom" and the venerable Mount Fuji in Japan was a symbol for the world axis. Of such importance to cultures is the Axis Mundi that civilizations erected mountains of stone such as the pyramids in Egypt and Teotihuacán in Mexico plus the Mesopotamian ziggurats, all designed to capture this motif.

Ancient Egyptian pyramids on the Gizah plateau

It was not just imposing objects in nature that could represent the Axis Mundi but also within the human form can be found this centre. The Hindu chakra system, powered by the rising of the Kundalini serpent, is an expression of this belief.

The Axis Mundi contains the fount of knowledge at the heart of the journey of all those invested in the hero's journey. As all seekers eventually learn, what you had to invest great time and effort in externally to find your treasure is paradoxically found within. The knowledge of self is guarded by a dragon and there's a good chance you'll get crucified on that world axis if you are none too careful. In the ancient story of the "Hymn of the Pearl" in the apocryphal Acts of Thomas, the pearl is the knowledge you seek - grab it and don't linger or the dragon will get you!

Throughout life we establish and recognize these axes in others and society, with the capacity to become a dominant Axis Mundi ourselves. In a way, being the centre is an expression of the fullness of ego in that there is a choice in whether to use this power to be of service and to help the collective consciousness of society or to use it in a selfish manner for your own personal gain. With most, unless you were born a saint, there is a need to experience the selfish aspect of acquiring this third chakra power and hopefully you will have the good fortune to have teachers and role models in your life to steer you towards a wise and benevolent use of your influence and power. Being a node or a pillar that others feed off of is a great responsibility and as provider I have an unique opportunity to be as such. I know from my journeys with plant medicines that the world system is made up of these power nodes and they are symbols of greed and avarice however there is a choice in how you use power and when you make yourself a shining example of how to use it then it influences others within your circle to do similar. If we ever do defeat the inner adversary then it is through directly choosing to love our fellow travellers on this glorious spaceship.

Remember every point In the universe is the centre. So, ritually create the Axis Mundi and embrace the all. Live in the eternal now as the centre of all existence. Embrace the greatness, as you are it.