The Philosopher's Stone (Was: PS/SS Title Change)

[Ibot Bracchae-Breves]

No: HPFGUIDX 55793

Patricia Bullington-McGuire wrote:

The Philosopher's Stone is not a particularly British idea. I don't know who originally came up with the idea or where they lived, but the concept of the stone has been widely known throughout Europe for hundreds of years. For an ancient, esoteric concept, it's pretty well known in the US too, thanks to our considerable European heritage. 

I'm an American, and I knew about the philosopher's stone long before the first Harry Potter book came out. There are many other Americans who also know about it apart from the HP books. And I'm sure there are many Brits who had *not* heard about the philosopher's stone before Harry Potter. 
It's well established in mythology, but it's not something people talk about over dinner. 

My contribution:

I'm getting on to a touchy subject here as this is approaching the subject of religion. This group is concerned mainly with the detective level of the HP books and so if I'm out of order please send me a howler and I'll turn silent as the grave!

The point I want to make is that the philosopher's stone is a very ancient symbol, which has been a guiding principle in certain people’s lives right up to the present day. I live in the Netherlands, and here the stone is known as the "Stone of the Wise".

I belong to a group of people who could very well be named "The Community of the Philosopher's Stone". The idea is that everyone owns a philosopher's stone. Hidden deep in the heart of every Tom, Dick and Harry is an eternal "stone" put there by the "Potter" of the universe. This stone, which can be accessed only when we don't want to use it (for earthly goals), can give its owner two things: it can make gold and it can make the elixir of life. It can turn the base metals of our earthly desires into the gold of the reborn soul, and it can give eternal life if we are willing to sacrifice the egocentric self. Hence our group could also be called "The Order of the Phoenix". The phoenix is the most refulgent symbol of the self-sacrifice of the earthly I-centred personality for the immortal heir-y-Potter.

When I first saw the title "HP and the Philosopher's Stone" I was immediately arrested by the use of this powerful, sacred symbol. When I read the books I was absolutely riveted by the incredibly potent archetypes which have been part of humanity's unconscious spiritual bank account, (deep under the ground at Gringott's), for uncountable millennia. Sometimes I wake up in the morning thinking to myself that it just can't be true that a girl of 24 was inspired for 4 hours to record the greatest, most powerful story ever told: the liberation of man. But then I think about Harry with the mark of Cain on his forehead and I realise it's true. This is the story of Gautama the Buddha, the story of Krishna, the Story of Jesus Christ, of Lao-Tzu, of Zarathustra (Zoroaster), of Moses, of Hermes Trismegistus. It is also the story of Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, the Quest for the Holy Grail, the 12 Labours of Hercules, and so many other myths, legends and fairy tales which promise the return to man's original fatherland.

Tears come to my eyes when I contemplate the radiant beauty and absolute purity of the story of HP. But not only is the story perfect in its outlining of the path of human liberation; it is totally true on every other level you can examine it. Christians theologians are entranced by it; as a detective novel it's unsurpassed; as a fairy tale it's classic; as pure literature it's an inexhaustible delight. You name it; it's there.

If I may be permitted I want to outline how Harry, as the prototype of the reborn, immortal soul, achieves a step in the process of liberation in each book.

In the first book Harry can gain access to the Stone only if he doesn't want to use it. He does not want earthly wealth and longevity. He has been liberated from the desire to live on the physical plane.

In the second book Harry liberates an elf. Elves, goblins, gnomes, fire-salamanders etc. are etheric creatures. Harry achieves liberation on the etheric plane (the plane of life force).

In the third book Harry learns to conquer fear. This is liberation on the astral (emotional) plane.

In the fourth book Harry develops his will to such an extent that he can actually drive back the curse coming out of Lucifer's (Voldemort) wand by pitting his will-power against Lucifer's. The eternal soul has achieved liberation on the mental plane.

Awaiting Harry in the next three books are liberation of the consciousness in its three aspects: the mental ego, the emotional ego and the consciousness ego.

The Path of Liberation can also be divided into five steps, described by the names of five Gods and planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Harry has achieved the step of Mercury through his alliance with Hermione. Hermione is the female form of Hermes, the Greek equivalent of Mercury. He has also achieved Mars: the triumph of his will against that of Lucifer. To come in the next three books are Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. Venus of course represents love. Harry will come to know divine Love, symbolised probably by a demonstration or sacrifice of great love. To win Jupiter, Harry will have to become the leader of the Gods; in other words he will become a great leader. To achieve the Saturn initiation Harry will have to go through the Gate of Saturn - a Death followed by an implicit or explicit resurrection in an indestructible body.

I now await the jury’s verdict with a pounding heart. If people are interested I can go on to explain further symbology. If not I’m sure I’ll get to hear about it!

Hans




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