The Cardinal Directions
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2016 8:45 pm
Recently I’ve become somewhat fascinated in the way by which different cultures/mythologies interpret the cardinal directions, both in relation to the wider natural world (North, East, South, West) and from a human perspective (Ahead, Right, Behind, Left). In modern European culture these are basically aligned with each other, sometimes with good/heaven and evil/hell linked with North and South respectively. But there are, of course, many other ways of looking at things. I can only think of a few mainly European ones, but it seems that other models from around the world include things like colour and so on. Furthermore, as various types of the occult/esotericism are often expressed in terms of a Right and Left path or side, I also wondered if people have certain directions personal formulations related to this subject.
The Kabbalah
Naturally, the Kabbalistist have the most complicated version I know of. In the Bahir it’s mentioned that the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge are, in fact, one huge tree that merely emerges from the earth in two different places. In the East grows the Tree of Life; in the North the Tree of Knowledge. When Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge they empower evil, something which necessitates the strict, severe and judgemental side of god. Therefore, in terms of the sephirothic tree, the Eastern Tree of Life is actually the central pillar whereas the Northern Tree of Knowledge is the Left side, with a particular focus on Din/Gevurah.
In the Zohar this is extended to other incidents, e.g. when Balak and Balaam decide to begin their attack against the Israelites from the North/Left because Din/Gevurah is the sephira where the demonic forces that threaten Israel derive from. Balak also instructs Balaam to attack the twelve angels that they mistakenly think watch over the twelve tribes of Israel, represented by the twelve bronze bulls – the Molten Sea – which are “counted from the North”.
Old Norse Mythology
Although it is often thought to be quite obvious – evil in the South/Helheimr (which is actually vertically below anyway) – it is actually from the East/Járnviðr that demonic forces originate.
The Saami
I don’t know a huge amount about the Saami, but it would seem that many judged their primary direction (which I guess would correspond with our concept of Northwards) by the direction in which reindeer migrate, i.e. what we would call a Westerly direction. Basically, I just find it really interesting that their primary direction was often based on a natural migration rather than directly on the weather, or the sun’s movement or shadow.
In relation to Old Norse mythology, I guess the Saami’s Western migration is likely to be one of the sources for the concept of the Eastern Járnviðr.
The Kabbalah
Naturally, the Kabbalistist have the most complicated version I know of. In the Bahir it’s mentioned that the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge are, in fact, one huge tree that merely emerges from the earth in two different places. In the East grows the Tree of Life; in the North the Tree of Knowledge. When Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge they empower evil, something which necessitates the strict, severe and judgemental side of god. Therefore, in terms of the sephirothic tree, the Eastern Tree of Life is actually the central pillar whereas the Northern Tree of Knowledge is the Left side, with a particular focus on Din/Gevurah.
In the Zohar this is extended to other incidents, e.g. when Balak and Balaam decide to begin their attack against the Israelites from the North/Left because Din/Gevurah is the sephira where the demonic forces that threaten Israel derive from. Balak also instructs Balaam to attack the twelve angels that they mistakenly think watch over the twelve tribes of Israel, represented by the twelve bronze bulls – the Molten Sea – which are “counted from the North”.
Old Norse Mythology
Although it is often thought to be quite obvious – evil in the South/Helheimr (which is actually vertically below anyway) – it is actually from the East/Járnviðr that demonic forces originate.
The Saami
I don’t know a huge amount about the Saami, but it would seem that many judged their primary direction (which I guess would correspond with our concept of Northwards) by the direction in which reindeer migrate, i.e. what we would call a Westerly direction. Basically, I just find it really interesting that their primary direction was often based on a natural migration rather than directly on the weather, or the sun’s movement or shadow.
In relation to Old Norse mythology, I guess the Saami’s Western migration is likely to be one of the sources for the concept of the Eastern Járnviðr.