Many cultures have mythical, spiritual tales. These are legends and stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation. Sacred renewal ceremonies are common. These doctrines dominate Western religion and our modern culture. Learn how they affect your beliefs and values.
Stories are a great way to communicate complex information. The best stories have memorable characters and storylines. We find them all the great spiritual narratives. They often employ archetypes with powerful themes and typologies. It’s hard to meet anyone who does not have a favorite story.
Narratives of Inner Growth and Renewal
Spiritual tales, legends, and stories of rebirth vary from culture to culture, but they all have similar elements. These narratives share a common theme or pattern, which Joseph Campbell calls the Hero’s Journey (1). It’s the typology of the spiritual quest.
Joseph Campbell’s concept of the Hero’s Journey is a story pattern in many religions. A hero goes on an adventure, faces challenges, and then returns home, changed and reborn. The journey starts when the hero leaves the ordinary world. On the quest, they meet mentors and friends, battle enemies, and finally come back stronger and wiser. This journey shows how people grow and learn through their experiences. It contains stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation that resonate with many people. These spiritual tales, legends, and stories have been passed down for generations.
These seekers of enlightenment encounter roadblocks and enemies on the path. There is also a central villain or adversary with supernatural powers. The adversary heads a group that opposes the hero’s quest. Our hero also has a core group of followers who are crucial to the story. In the end, the hero triumphs over the adversary and returns to help others do the same.
The quest follows a pattern of awakening, one of the most significant sacred renewal ceremonies and transitions in life. It’s the part of the story where the main character hears the call of the journey and embarks on the adventure. The seekers go through stages of transition involving a spiritual battle, death, and rebirth. Finally, they return to inspire and guide others.
This pattern often repeats in our lives as we walk the path of development. When we reach a goal, a new door opens with additional quests.
Spiritual Tales and Sacred Renewal Ceremonies
Sacred ceremonies for spiritual renewal and cleansing are often highly emotional processes. Renewal is often about forgiveness. We must learn to forgive ourselves and others in order to heal. It is common to use elements like fire and water to symbolize cleansing and new beginnings during these rites. These rituals help people let go of negative feelings and embrace positive energy. The goal is to heal emotional and spiritual wounds. These ceremonies help people feel more connected to themselves, the community, and their beliefs.
“The Christian cross comes from Egypt and India; the triple miter from the Mithraic faith; the shepherd’s crook from the Hermetic Mysteries and Greece, the immaculate conception from India; the transfiguration from Persia; and the trinity from the Brahmans. The Virgin Mary, as the mother of God, is found in a dozen different faiths. There are over twenty crucified world saviors. The church steeple is an adaptation of Egyptian obelisks and pyramids, while the Christian devil is the Egyptian Typhon with certain modifications.” ― Occult Anatomy of Man; Occult Masonry, Manly P. Hall
Stories of Rebirth, Renewal and Reincarnation
The most popular mythical, spiritual tales, legends, and stories of our culture are found in the Abrahamic tree. These are the religions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Let’s start with a look at the dying-god sects and those closely related common elements. (2)
When we talk about dying gods, we refer to those avatars who were killed but resurrected. One of the most common methods of mythology for this health is crucifixion. The sheer brutality of watching someone die in such a horrible manner made crucifixion a popular social event. It was a message to bystanders that they needed to fall in line and comply. It was trendy in the Mediterranean region before the common era.
The Facts Behind Spiritual Tales, Legends and Stories and Rebirth
In 1875, the researcher and writer Kersey Graves compiled one of the most detailed accounts of Christian salvation. It is entitled “The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors. Christianity before Christ, a History of Sixteen Heathen Crucified Gods.” (3) He provides over 40 similarities between earlier pagan gods and Christianity. He shows how the life of Jesus is a composite of the events from earlier dying-god cults. Here are a few key points.
“Anacalypsis by” Godfrey Higgins explores the origins of spiritual narratives. He traces their roots back to ancient civilizations. Higgins examines the similarities between various deities and religious figures. This analysis sheds light on the commonalities among the Abrahamic religions. (4)
“The Golden Bough” by James George Frazer is a comprehensive investigation of ancient thought. Frazer’s influential book investigates the common themes, legends, and stories of rebirth. It includes an analysis of the death and rebirth motifs in many religious traditions, including those of the Abrahamic faiths. (5)
“The Family of Abraham” by Carol Bakhos examines the concept of the Abrahamic religions. She explores how the figure of Abraham has been interpreted and reinterpreted in these faiths. This work reveals the complexities, contradictions, and differences of the Abrahamic traditions. (6)
Jesus and the Christian Legends and Stories of Rebirth
Jesus of Nazareth is the most popular avatar and dying god in modern times. The story takes place in Palestine in 1 CE. During his reign, Constantine (312-337) established the new Universal Religion. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, is the first to coin the term Catholic Church. It means universal and orthodox to all local congregations. (7)
— Born of a virgin on the Winter solstice, December 25
— Held titles o, The Star in the East, King of Kings, The Alpha, and Omega
— Had 12 disciples
— Performed miracles, including healing, raising from the dead, and turning water into wine.
— Was crucified and rose from the dead three days later to ascend to heaven
— Created the first mass zombie-raising event
Many scholars point out that the story of Jesus is a solar allegory. Born of a virgin mother at the winter solstice and crucified between two thieves at the vernal equinox. The crucifixion is symbolic, representing the sun’s path through the zodiac. The plane of the ecliptic crossing or passing over (Passover) is the equator at the vernal equinox. It is common to represent this path crossing as a 90 deg cross on old star charts. The star chart provides evidence of where the cross in a circle motif originates.
Christianity is the rebranding of these stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation. We will outline some of the main points of their doctrines. How did they do it? Simple. They had the world’s most powerful army, which conquered the Mediterranean region. (7) (8)
Jesus, born to a virgin on December 25, shares many similarities with the other dying gods. The Roman army transitioned these existing religions under the new universal religion based in Rome. They all focus on the narratives of inner growth and renewal that take us from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
The rebranding of the dying god temples gave the Roman Empire the momentum needed to build the Vatican city-state. It continued to expand around the world, becoming the wealthiest single entity.
“Symbolism in a greater or lesser degree is essential to every kind of external worship, and we need not shrink from the conclusion that in the matter of baptisms and washings, of genuflection’s and other acts of reverence, of lights and sweet-smelling incense, of flowers and white vestitures, of spiritual unction’s and the imposing of hands, of sacrifice and the rite of the Communion banquet, the Church has borrowed without hesitation from the common stock of significant actions known to all periods and all nations. In such matters as these, Christianity claims no monopoly or originality.” ― The Catholic Encyclopedia and International Work, Vol. 13 (1907)
Remember, ancient mythical, spiritual tales, legends, and stories are metaphors. They do not represent factual events. The story is of Jesus, just such a story about an avatar. He is raised in Jewish culture and becomes an educated scholar of the tradition, which he rejects. As a rebel, he undergoes a spiritual awakening in the wilderness and then embarks on his quest to confront the religious leaders. He is the victim of betrayal by one of his followers and subsequently tortured to death, but then resurrects and ascends to heaven. His life as an avatar showcases the symbols of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation.
The authority of Christianity comes from texts voted into the canon of divinely inspired writings of those who knew Jesus. These writings are often contradictory and stretch the bounds of logic. Our favorite parts of the New Testament are when Jesus is talking to himself inside his head. Then, someone who wasn’t even there recorded these conversations.
Horus
Egypt, approximately 3000 to 4000 BCE. In Egyptian mythology, known as the sun god. He is the Son of Isis and Osiris. The Greeks adopted it as the god of silence and was also called Harpocrates. (bullfinch). Notable characteristics of his legend:
— Born on December 25 or Winter Solstice
— Born of a virgin mother
— Symbol a Start in the East
— Adorned by 3 Kings
— At 12, he became a religious scholar and spiritual teacher
— Baptized into ministry at 30 years old
— Had 12 disciples
However, the texts of the Horus and the composite known today as Jesus share more similarities (9). These symbols of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation represent the historical roots of the avatar Jesus.
— Jesus says, I and the Father are one. Horus says, is the Father seen in the Son? And Jesus claims to be the Son in whom the Father is revealed.
— Horus is the light of the world; he is the light of the all-seeing eye, the revealing light of divinity. Peacock feathers were his symbol, which you see today in Christianity as a symbol of resurrection. Of course, Jesus declared he was the light of the world.
— Horus was baptized in a stream by Anup at 30. Jesus was baptized with water by John the Baptist when he was 30 years old. Anup is the name of the divine scribe; the name John means scribe.
— Horus was born in Annu, the place of bread. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the house of bread.
— We see Horus with a shepherd’s crook on his shoulder, known as the good shepherd. Sound familiar? Jesus is also called the good shepherd, often shown carrying a lamb.
— Horus has seven onboard the boat, and Jesus’ story also has seven who board a vessel. Later in the story, they both had twelve trusted disciples.
— Horus is known as the Lamb and Lion, as is Jesus.
— Horus uses the symbol of a Tat or Cross. The followers of Jesus used the same logo to identify with his crucifixion.
Could these similarities be just a coincidence?
The defacing of statues in India and Egypt is the basis for denying the connection. Indeed, the story of Jesus was not original. Some Christian authorities claim all the pagan stories are true. However, they are the preconceived forgeries of the devil, who foresaw the birth of Christ and duplicated the events ahead of time. But the problem with preconceived fakes is that they ascribe omniscience to the devil, a trait supposedly reserved for the one true god.
Some anthropologists, like Godfrey Higgins, traveled to India in the early 1800s. He describes temples where Horus had his arms outstretched on a cross. Some statues even have holes in their wrists and feet. However, the only connection here is Celtic relics, which depict their God, Heus or Esus, as crucified. Christian apologists show no connection to Horus. So what about Hesus?
Heus
The Celts didn’t keep written records. The oral tradition was used to convey information from generation to generation. So, the artifacts of their lineage, including the cross of Hesus, are the major proofs that are left. These physical artifacts date to before 50 BCE.
Heus or Esus of Lactantius and Lucan describe him as the god of the Gauls. Canon McCulloch is regarded as an old-culture god. He is depicted as a woodsman but also as an Ox or Bull.
Heus is a name from an older language than the Gaelic of the Celts. The name comes from Hu. Hu or Huwa (Arabic: هُوَ meaning He) is a name for God in Sufism, and it is a Hebrew and Arabic term for the English third person. Sufism uses this term to avoid attributing a grammatical gender to Allah. In Sufism, Hu, or Huwa, is the pronoun for Allah or god. It is also the way one refers to the generic term of god. The meaning of Hu is simply deity, a word you can use for any God. Husus or Hesus is a God adopted by the culture, as was Osiris, with the Egyptians. (8)
Legend has Hesus was sacrificed like a bull or ox, but rose again three days later. He is pictured crucified on a cross, his hands and feet pierced by the nails.
Mithra
Persia and Rome approximately 1200 to 1 BCE. The Roman army assimilated the blood-letting ceremonies of Mithraism as their initiation ritual. They believed walking through the blood of the bull made the warrior invincible. (10) Mitha is linked to the Vedic God Mitra and is part of the trinity of the Persian mystery religion with Ahura Mazda and Ahura Berezaiti. These traditions go back further than 5000 years.
Mithraism is often associated with the Roman Mystery Cult of “The God Mithras.” This cult flourished from 100 to 400 CE when Constantine created Christianity (280 to 337 CE). Mithraism was part of the rebranding of the mystery religions. The bloodletting of animals became symbolic in Catholicism’s Communion Ceremony.
This journey of spiritual renewal is based on the substitution sacrifice concept. The life of another is sacrificed as an offering to the Gods to redeem them for killing other humans. This practice was very popular in the Roman army. Every soldier needed redemption from their acts of barbarism.
We know there were seven levels of initiation, but we do not precisely know what each contained. The Church should have this information in its archives, but it is silent on the matter. The culminating ritual used the blood of bulls.
We know Mithriams (temples to worship Mithra) were built underground with a two-tiered platform. Priests slit the throat of an animal on the top so the warriors could walk below through the blood. Some say they drank the blood and ate the animal’s body, preferably a bull. Partaking would absolve them from the acts they would perpetrate as Roman soldiers. Hence, the reference later to Christ offering his blood and body as a sacrifice. (3) (7)
The Roman Empire built many churches over the sites where Mithriams once existed. And this is where the tradition of catacombs began. There is speculation that the secret rites, the original symbols of rebirth and transformation, are still used by the Church elite.
Mithra’s name is on inscriptions dating to the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE), during the reign of Artaxerxes II (404-358 BCE). This god is prominent during the Sassanian Empire (224-651 CE). After the Sassanian fell to the invading Muslim Arabs in 651 CE. (8) (11)
The fundamental characteristics of the life of Mithra are:
— Born on December 25 or Winter Solstice
— His mother was a virgin
— Had 12 disciples
— Performed miracles, healing, turning water to wine, raising the dead
— Resurrected and rose from the dead after three days
Dionysus
Dionysus was the son of Zeus. This Greek avatar’s story comes from writings dated approximately 500 to 1 BCE. The legend most likely existed long before the dating of these records. It is one of the spiritual renewal journeys echoed throughout Western theology.
In Roman mythology, Bacchus god of wine, the Son of Jupiter, and Semele for the Greeks. (2) Bacchus entered Thebes in a chariot drawn by elephants and married Ariadne after Theseus deserted her. (12) The legend of Dionysus is older than that of Apollo. (2) (9)
— Born of a virgin on the Winter Solstice
— Turned water into wine
— Performed miracles of healing and prosperity
— Known by Titles, King of Kings, The Alpha, and Omega
— Resurrected and ascended to heaven
Attis
Greece from 1500 to about 50 BCE. The direct forerunner of Dionysus, from Adonis, Smyrna, the myth related to Tammuz. Tammuz is one of high antiquity, dating from 4000 BCE or possibly earlier. (13) Both Tammuz and Ishtar were non-Semitic; the name derived from Akkadian Dumuzi, meaning the Son of light, the only Son, the bright and morning star. (2) The Abrahamic religions are built on the stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation of Attis.
— Yes, also born of a virgin on December 25, the Winter solstice
— Crucified on a cross but resurrected from the grave after three days
Krishna
He lived in India around 1200 BCE. Unlike the other dying gods, Krishna met his demise in a hunting accident. Some traditions say he was mistaken for a deer and shot with an arrow. Some versions of the story say the arrow nailed him to a tree, but this is not common.
— Born of a virgin
— Title: the Star in the East
— Performed miracles of healing
Islams Spiritual Narratives
Islam is the youngest of the major world religions. It recognizes the authority of the writings of the dying god Jesus and the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Tanak. Islam was created around the 7th century and comes from the reports of those who supposedly knew Muhammad. He was not an avatar and didn’t perform any of the miracles of the dying god predecessors. The things he said were recorded in two documents, the Quran and Hadith, around 1000 CE, about 400 years after Muhammad died.
According to tradition, Muhammad began receiving divine revelations, calling for submission to the one true god. His message gained a group of followers, and, like the previous story of Jesus, it was met with increasing opposition from religious Meccan leaders. But, unlike the other dying gods of the region, he was not tortured to death.
Spiritual Narratives of Judaism
Judaism is a journey of spiritual renewal based on the tribal ethnicity of the ancient Israelites. It began in Babylon approximately 4000 BCE (14). It began compiling writings that became the Torah. The core of these writings comes from earlier Babylon, Assyria, and Persia mystery religions.
The symbols of rebirth and transformation center upon daily compliance with various practices outlined in the Torah and include other works, such as the Talmud, Zohar Siddur, and Tanya.
For example, once scholars could decipher the old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, they revealed many things, including the link to the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi was the ruler of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BCE. He is famous for documenting 282 laws of the Babylonian culture, inscribed on a stela in Babylon’s temple of Marduk. Many of these statutes are in the Book of Exodus. The stele was originally at Susa in present-day Iran. The stele now resides in the Louvre Museum.
With our ability to read cucumiform, we could unveil many of the ancient Mesopotamian languages, revealing the stories of Job and many others in the writings of the Torah.
Creating Your Own Sacred Renewal Ceremonies
To create a meaningful journey, you must find your own path. This means using the proper tools to explore consciousness and refresh and strengthen your spirit.
It starts with taking time to think about your current feelings and beliefs. You might spend time in quiet reflection or prayer, seeking a deeper connection with your inner self or a higher power. Reading spiritual texts and practicing mindfulness can help you feel more centered and peaceful.
Use spiritual technologies like seated and moving meditation. Doing things that bring you joy and connecting with a supportive community can also be important parts of this spiritual renewal journey. The goal is to feel more balanced, peaceful, and connected to your spiritual beliefs.
The Avatars and Sages are metaphors. Their messages contain narratives of inner growth and renewal. There are some common lessons we can use in our spiritual walks. Use the stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation as inspiration, but don’t mistake mythologies for facts.
Foremost, do it on your own. Do not become a follower and join a religion. All the enlightened beings’ stories tell us they did it in the wilderness, away from the doctrines and dogma of any organized faith. The Gods of old are still with us; they are nature. Here are some simple steps to create an effective spiritual path.
1. Set Your Intention and Goals
Think about why you want to embark on this journey. Write your goals and what you hope to achieve. Effective growth plans begin with clear goals.
2. Find or Create a Sacred Space
Find a peaceful spot where you can relax and think. It could be a park, your room, or any place you feel calm.
3. Plan and Create Your Activities
Decide on activities that help you feel connected and peaceful. Examples: meditation, tai chi, reading inspirational books, or spending time in nature. Create your own sacred renewal ceremonies and rituals.
4. Create a Schedule
Make a simple plan for when you will do these activities. Try to stick to your schedule, but be flexible if things change.
5. Reflect Daily
Spend a few minutes each day thinking about your experiences. Reflection is an important aspect of spiritual renewal journeys. Write in a journal about what you felt and learned. Recording what’s going on is the best way to spot trends, growth, or things that may be hindering your development.
6. Build a Healthy, Skeptical but Positive Mindset
Remember that this journey is about growth and learning. Be kind to yourself and celebrate your progress.
7. Seek Like-minded Spiritual Explorers
Talk to friends, family, or a mentor about your journey. Take seminars on the Enneagram and Reiki and connect with others, creating their own spiritual renewal journeys. Sharing your experiences can help you stay motivated.
8. Review and Adjust Your Path
After some time, look back at your journey. See what worked well and what you need to change. Whether or not you believe the Bible, the tale of Jesus shows how someone can spend a large amount of time studying stuff that has no spiritual merit. Jesus spent years studying only to forge his own path. The same is true of Mohammad and Buddha. Their legends and stories of rebirth, renewal, and reincarnation occurred after they left religion.
Summing Up Mythical Spiritual Tales
The dying god stories of the ancient mystery religions are still with us. Although they have new names now, the stories are the same. We can learn the lessons from the fables or mistake them for real avatars.
References
(1) Joseph Campbell, Hero with a Thousand Faces. Wikipedia
(2) Bulfinch’s Mythology, Illustrated Edition Including the complete texts of the Age of Fable, 1978 by Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867).
(3) The World’s Sixteen Crucified Saviors, or Christianity before Christ, Kersey Graves 1881. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38600/38600-h/38600-h.htm
(4) Anacalypsis” by Godfrey Higgins. Goodreads.com
(5) The Golden Bough by James George Frazer. Goodreads.com
(6) The Family of Abraham by Carol Bakhos. The Harvard Press
(7) Church History in Plain Language, Bruce L. Shelley, 1982.
(8) Anacalypsis, an Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Santic Isis; Or, an Inquiry Into the Origin of Languages, Nations, and Religions; Volume 1 and 2 by Godfrey Higgins published in 1836 after his death.
(9) The book Your Church Doesn’t Want You To Read, Tim C. Leedom, 1993:
(10) Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius by Samuel Dill, 1905:
(11) The Mysteries of Mithra, by Franz Cumont, 1903.
(12) Dionysus, Myth, and Cult by Otto Walter Fredrich, 1874-1958, republished 1965.
(13) The Mysteries of Britain or the Secret Rites and Traditions of Ancient Britain Restored by Lewis Spence, 1918 reprint 1995.
(14) Myths and Legends, Babylonia, and Assyria, Lewis Spence, 1916 reprint 1995.