DUALITY
Duality is Basic to Manifestation Itself
As the number 2 signifies duality, all the opposing forces like Light and Darkness, black and white, yin and yang, feminine and masculine, severity and mercy, passive and aggressive, esoteric and exoteric, heart and mind, intuition and logic, water and fire and so on are part of our concept of life, toggling back and forth, and often we see them as "either/or". In Hermeticism we see the two opposite forces represented as pillars standing in the Hall of the Neophyte for the candidate to go through as entering the gate of Truth and Knowledge during an initiation. These pillars, also known as "Mercy and Severity" are the symbols of the manifesting duality, and factors operative within the psyche of an individual and constituents of our own nature. In Jungian Psychology, they are Animus and Anima. Animus is the Kabalistic Chiah (Will) and Anima is the Kabalistic Neschamah (Soul). Animus is in contact with the outer world; Anima is in contact with the inner world. In occult psychology, Animus is Consciousness and Anima is Subconsciousness.
However, there is an invisible middle pillar connecting the other two suggesting integration and the union of opposites. As the candidate stands between the pillars is becoming the reconciler, making both forces part of the spiritual journey. The two pillars, when joined by the veil, signify "the two great opposing and contending forces in the manifested Universe united eternally."
Duality divided at the first-cause level results in pure creation. You can read the white letters on this page because of the black background. Black letters on a black page would not be visible. But notice that there is no judgment, right or wrong, or good and evil in this level of creation. Likewise, positive and negative as two poles of a battery would be a first-cause creation. Using the opposing poles in this equal manner creates power.
We know that matter itself is condensed and compressed cosmic energy enveloped in spiritual alchemy, called the “Prima Materia" or "Primordial Matter." Science and occult practitioners define it as "chaos," and see it as a formless substance that permeates creation in its entirety.
Primordial matter fills the whole of creation, and yet, under the influence of the spirit, it incessantly transforms itself into new shapes and forms. Through these two opposite and contrary poles that govern the whole of creation, known also as Light and Darkness, the Law of Duality comes into play, controlling the whole process of life and creation. It is very important to understand and absorb the concept and essence of duality, simply because if we didn’t have duality, we would not yearn and strive for wholeness and unity. In other words, we would not be compelled to return to the unmanifested Source of Being. Through duality, we can learn to harmonize our un-manifested essence into our incarnated body.
One of the first steps to transcending duality is to be extremely honest with ourselves about where we are holding judgments about others and thus indirectly, ourselves.
We need to truly identify and review the idea of "wrong" "bad" or "dark".
Understanding ourselves inevitably leads to the natural progression of understanding others and the world around us. Being more aware of our thoughts on a moment-by-moment basis is an essential phase of inner work if we want to retain our clarity of mind and integrate with our Higher Self.
By questioning our motives and behaviors, we are in effect, inviting in the energies of transformation that will lead us to the integration of dualities.
The primary benefit of transcending duality is that we no longer relate to finger-pointing, judgment, or labeling of any kind. We now understand that each soul has its lessons, their level of consciousness, and their own pathway to growth.
Paola Luciani Fulbright
