The River As A Symbol (2)

Perhaps the most familiar understanding we have of this principle is the annual return of the Nile River in Egypt. Each year the Nile River swells along its river bed and impregnates the soil along its banks with the nourishing and life-giving supply of water necessary to regenerate the crop supply. Without the river there would be no water. Without the water there would be no crops. Without the crops there would be no life.

Creation myths from numerous cultures speak of a great mountain from which four rivers flowed in four different directions. These rivers provided the life-giving nourishment for the four cardinal areas of creation (North, South, East and West). These rivers impregnated the lands which then gave birth to the exotic gardens of myth and legend. Symbolically, a garden represents fertility and abundance. For there to be a garden (fertility), water (birth and nourishment) must be very close at hand. And this water can only be delivered by either a river, spring or stream. It is important to also note that a well, which is also a water supply, is simply a man-made effort which taps into an underground river or stream.

The River as symbol of Life. The river, in its long journey, is symbolic of life in general; and of our lives in particular. There are periods when the river experiences turbulent, chaotic and disturbing times (rapids); there are periods when it experiences twists, turns and pauses; and then there are periods when the river flows peacefully, smoothly and calmly.

The twists and turns which are a part of a River's long journey symbolize the twists and turns which we encounter during our earthly journey; our incarnation. As with the river, our earthly journey is not direct. Just as a river must take time to turn, pause and regain its energy, we too must take time to pause, alter course a little, and refresh ourselves. And just like the river, once our pause and refreshment is over we are then ready to resume the next clear path of our journey. The river also reminds us that we can only go forward in our life's journey. It is when we attempt to go back (live in the past) that we find ourselves "swimming upstream" in a futile attempt to defy the natural flow of nature.

And finally, just as with each and every one of us, the time comes for the river to end its long journey. This is the moment when the river passes through its delta (change) to be transformed into, and become part of, the Great Sea. This moment of transition for the river symbolizes our moment of transformation which occurs when our long earthly journey comes to its end. This is the time when we also change in order to return to, and re-become part of, that Great Consciousness which we call Divinity.

The river, what a great metaphor for this complex journey we call life.