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Caduceus
Now let us look at another tree of life, the Caduceus, also known as the Staff of Hermes, the sign and symbol of the ancient physician. It is even used by physicians today. Do we know its meaning and use? What does it represent? What graphic secrets does this design conceal and at the same time reveal? Could its story be the same as that of the tree of life in the Bible, or related to it? Could the symbol of the two serpents have the same meaning as the one serpent of the outgoing current of mind energy (as desire) that led man into the fall or involution?
The second creation of man (Gen. 2:7) was the unfolding of the pattern and type form of man previously created, and molding it by the finest material energy on the plane of 'Akash' [akasha, aakaasha] as an actual body made out of the essence of matter or clay. Into this form or abode, the Universal Life Breath of 'Prana' was breathed into its nostrils, to link the universe or fine essence of matter outside, with the Soul in the body, which is the seat of consciousness, mind intelligence. So the body and soul were blended into one unit of being, a living Soul in a fine, material body.
The three types of trees:
| 1 - The tree of life |
| 2 - The trees for nourishment |
| 3 - The tree of knowledge of good and evil |
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are situated in the form of man, and function as the three qualities of mind and fine material energy in the body, and flowing over the brain and nervous systems. The tree of life is the positive pole in the brain. The tree of knowledge of good and evil is the un-intelligent pole of impulse on the other end of the nervous system and spinal column. It is the emotional, generative impulse which keeps man bound to earth. The Perineal floor is the finality of this impulse as a sympathetic nerve reflex, which must be coordinated with the Parasympathetic and Cerebrospinal Systems.
These three types of nervous systems are typical of the three types of trees; the Cerebrospinal as the Intelligent or 'Satva' [sattva, sattwa] impulse; the Parasympathetic as the emotional, restless, active, preservative impulse, 'Rajas'; and the final, blind expression of the force of crystallization, the generative, driving power, 'Tamas'.
Following are the three types of mind corresponding to the three varieties of trees and nervous systems and their functions:
| 1. | The superconscious as 'Satva' [sattva, sattwa], the ideal and pattern mind, created as the first creation |
| 2. | The conscious or active mind, 'Rajas', created in the second creation |
| 3. | 'Tamas' or earthbound mind, going into sense life entirely and bound thereby. The stage or cycle of life after the fall or loss of the conscious life in Paradise, |
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