The Symbolism of the Items Reliquished at each Gate
Here the object is to consider what was given up at each gate.
First Gate - Septer
This to me is arrogance and (as fellow class member
ninja99 indicated) the mindset of control. The days
of Kings and Queens is pretty much gone and over as
far as I know. I don't know of any country at all
where one person has supreme sovreignity. Perhaps
there are still some very small kingdoms out in some
deep jungle, but that gets away from the point.
Surrendering this item symbolizes to me the acceptance
of the realization that one does not always have
control over everything in their lives. In death, one
no longer has the ability to control anything of their
former life. (Unless they're bound to the mortal plane
as a ghost?)
Second Gate - Crown
Another symbol of sovreignity is reliquished at this
gate. However, where the septer is of the hand,
symbolizing controlling by action, the crown is of the
head and seems to represent controlling by thought.
One cannot have loving thoughts toward another if they
are consumed with plans of ways to control them.
Also, humans tend to think that their ability to
reason sets them above other species. In death, one
moves beyond the thinking self as the brain dies.
Third Gate - Necklace
The necklace can be seen as fancy and jewelled or even
a simple pendant. A piece of jewelery that encircles
the neck or suspended therefrom, worn either as a
token of friendship or love, or as an adornment. I'm
more inclined to see it here as an adornment, and thus
demonstrating the desire to add to oneself. The drive
for constant improvement. During the descent this is
given up because in death there is no more striving
and no more desire.
Fourth Gate - Ring
In the case of this piece of jewelery, I'm much more
inclined to see it as a token of friendship and/or
love. Reliquishing this item is the letting go of our
connection to the relationships of the past, at least
temporarily. Death seperates one from everyone
they've loved in life so that they may begin the
process of looking over the former life from an
unbiased perspective.
Fifth Gate - Girdle
This item seems to represent control of self & concern
over physical appearance. The slim waist has been
considered a trait of physical beauty for some time
now. Many often become over concerned with how others
view them, rather than expecting to be accepted as
they are. Death is total acceptance. It doesn't
discriminate. It comes to each in turn.
Sixth Gate- Sandles
Sandles protect the feet, which connect one to the
earth. It is also confidence in knowing that one will
not step on a painful rock, because the insulation of
the sandle's sole protects the wearer from the rock.
It prevents one also from feeling the earth, beneath
one's feet.
Seventh Gate - Gown
The self that is kept hidden most of the time not only
from others, but also from the waking self. Nothing
of ourselves remains hidden in death. All of one's
imperfections are revealed. All that we have been and
hoped to become is laid to waste and the time of
reviewuation enters upon us as we look back on all that
we've done and said.
Copyright October 2000, Lioness_of_Mystery. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.