RainInanna
June 17th, 2008, 03:21 PM
I have recently come across an article that discusses a concept I've been rolling around my thoughts lately. The concept is mythic time, or as some refer to it, transtemporal time.
The article, Zep Tepi, The First Time (http://www.templeofstarlight.nl/jackzeptepi.htm), as you might expect, refers in particular to Zep Tepi, which is a mythic event from Kemet (Ancient Egypt). Zep Tepi, "the first time", is a reference to the moment when existence began, when all things were ma'at - that is to say, in balance, perfect, new and whole. For many Kemetics, Zep Tepi is re-enacted in ritual each day to remind us each new day is a new beginning, that ma'at is renewed always.
That said, my focus here is not on the Kemetic myth itself, but on the idea of mythic time. That is, re-enacting a myth at any moment, recognizing that the "mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present". The author of this article, Jack van Eijk, describes how mythic time is also reflected in the Dreamtime of the aboriginals,
The creation for them, you see, is not a historical fact, but a current activity, the (re)creation is a continual process...
The Dreamtime, just as the First Time, is not only a past, but also a present and future matrix for the seen and unseen world. And this fact needs to be confirmed constantly. The Dreamtime is a living reality with current responsibilities. And so the Aboriginal Flynn tells Chatwin: 'To sing a verse out of order', Flynn said sombrely, 'was a crime. Usually meant the death penalty.' 'I can see that, 'I said. 'It'd be the musical equivalent of an earthquake.' 'Worse, 'he scowled. 'It would be to uncreate the Creation.'
And finally van Eijk describes mythic time per Catholic ritual
The so-called ‘transsubstantiation’, the transition of bread and wine into the flesh and blood of the Son of God, is again and again occurring factually. And the communicant who is the subject of this sacrament, has put him/herself in a state of mind, has assumed a level of consciousness, yes, has even attained a state of being, in which this mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present.
Closer to Pagan practice, we can see this too when we step inside the Wiccan circle, "beyond space and time", where all myths are seen to be occurring at the moment we re-enact them. In other Pagan paths we speak of all things existing at the same time, all possibilities being available now, the past and future being accessible when within Sacred space. On the other hand, we speak of the Now as well - transcending worries of the future of the past because this moment is the only one.
Because, you see, it is in fact simply a way of experiencing, a ‘state of mind’. Our own myths and fairytales, our own 'once upon a time', we do not experience as a real past, as history.
I feel often we lose the magic of mythic time in confusing it with literal, historical time. While the latter is not to be discarded, to be sure, I feel many have forgotten the former. Mythic time is important because it allows us to achieve harmony in the cosmos, to find meaning in magic and ritual, in every moment. While factual truth and historical accuracy have their places, so to do "the restoration of harmony in the cosmos, preferably on a higher, that is to say a more spiritual level". Accepting and using mythic time allows us to do so.
For example, in terms of Zep Tepi, one's temple may have walls painted to represent the waters. The Nile's rise and fall mirrorred (or inspired?) the idea that creation arose from the water. Accordingly, each day we can go to the temple of the waters, to arise once more from the water, to be the benben (source, spring) of life. This daily rite can allow us to create harmony within ourselves, and through finding it within, we can create it outside ourselves as well.
Similarly, in Wicca, we can re-enact myths as in Sabbat rituals. Each time we allow it, we can move into mythic time, and achieve the state of mind and experience called forward by the myths we re-enact. Instead of nailing ourselves down to historical fact and accuracy, we can accept the flexibility of events in mythic time. We can wear the guise of the gods, restoring harmony within and around, using myth to put ourselves in a state of mind, assume a level of consciousness, yes, even attain "a state of being, in which this mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present".
Having become advanced enough to ascertain for ourselves when history is accurate, I think we now too have become advanced enough to determine when historical accuracy is unnecessary. We can open ourselves to mythic time, as we so choose, and we can accept when it is inspirational and meaningful to do so. We are able to wield the balance between accepting facts and opening our mind to mythic time as it suits us.
The article, Zep Tepi, The First Time (http://www.templeofstarlight.nl/jackzeptepi.htm), as you might expect, refers in particular to Zep Tepi, which is a mythic event from Kemet (Ancient Egypt). Zep Tepi, "the first time", is a reference to the moment when existence began, when all things were ma'at - that is to say, in balance, perfect, new and whole. For many Kemetics, Zep Tepi is re-enacted in ritual each day to remind us each new day is a new beginning, that ma'at is renewed always.
That said, my focus here is not on the Kemetic myth itself, but on the idea of mythic time. That is, re-enacting a myth at any moment, recognizing that the "mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present". The author of this article, Jack van Eijk, describes how mythic time is also reflected in the Dreamtime of the aboriginals,
The creation for them, you see, is not a historical fact, but a current activity, the (re)creation is a continual process...
The Dreamtime, just as the First Time, is not only a past, but also a present and future matrix for the seen and unseen world. And this fact needs to be confirmed constantly. The Dreamtime is a living reality with current responsibilities. And so the Aboriginal Flynn tells Chatwin: 'To sing a verse out of order', Flynn said sombrely, 'was a crime. Usually meant the death penalty.' 'I can see that, 'I said. 'It'd be the musical equivalent of an earthquake.' 'Worse, 'he scowled. 'It would be to uncreate the Creation.'
And finally van Eijk describes mythic time per Catholic ritual
The so-called ‘transsubstantiation’, the transition of bread and wine into the flesh and blood of the Son of God, is again and again occurring factually. And the communicant who is the subject of this sacrament, has put him/herself in a state of mind, has assumed a level of consciousness, yes, has even attained a state of being, in which this mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present.
Closer to Pagan practice, we can see this too when we step inside the Wiccan circle, "beyond space and time", where all myths are seen to be occurring at the moment we re-enact them. In other Pagan paths we speak of all things existing at the same time, all possibilities being available now, the past and future being accessible when within Sacred space. On the other hand, we speak of the Now as well - transcending worries of the future of the past because this moment is the only one.
Because, you see, it is in fact simply a way of experiencing, a ‘state of mind’. Our own myths and fairytales, our own 'once upon a time', we do not experience as a real past, as history.
I feel often we lose the magic of mythic time in confusing it with literal, historical time. While the latter is not to be discarded, to be sure, I feel many have forgotten the former. Mythic time is important because it allows us to achieve harmony in the cosmos, to find meaning in magic and ritual, in every moment. While factual truth and historical accuracy have their places, so to do "the restoration of harmony in the cosmos, preferably on a higher, that is to say a more spiritual level". Accepting and using mythic time allows us to do so.
For example, in terms of Zep Tepi, one's temple may have walls painted to represent the waters. The Nile's rise and fall mirrorred (or inspired?) the idea that creation arose from the water. Accordingly, each day we can go to the temple of the waters, to arise once more from the water, to be the benben (source, spring) of life. This daily rite can allow us to create harmony within ourselves, and through finding it within, we can create it outside ourselves as well.
Similarly, in Wicca, we can re-enact myths as in Sabbat rituals. Each time we allow it, we can move into mythic time, and achieve the state of mind and experience called forward by the myths we re-enact. Instead of nailing ourselves down to historical fact and accuracy, we can accept the flexibility of events in mythic time. We can wear the guise of the gods, restoring harmony within and around, using myth to put ourselves in a state of mind, assume a level of consciousness, yes, even attain "a state of being, in which this mystery, this secret of the faith, becomes a reality in the present".
Having become advanced enough to ascertain for ourselves when history is accurate, I think we now too have become advanced enough to determine when historical accuracy is unnecessary. We can open ourselves to mythic time, as we so choose, and we can accept when it is inspirational and meaningful to do so. We are able to wield the balance between accepting facts and opening our mind to mythic time as it suits us.