Forlong - Rivers of Life

Serpent and Phallic Worship.
creating God of ancient days is here symbolised. In the Oak and Ivy we recognise
Tor and Friga, or Osiris and Kan-Osiris—the tree of Osiris, and all the energies of
fertility; and observe that they are scattered abundantly on and about the altar, or ark
—her symbol. The meaning was clearly that which the Greek held when he spoke of
Herm-athena, or Mercury and Minerva in conjunction, representing the perfection of
heaven and earth. A youth was here separating himself from the chains of childhood
and joining the ranks of the Liber-Pater—and it was impossible not to see in his fete
and the Tree and Banner-symbolism, and Serpent-like garlands scattered everywhere,
a mild imitation of the Liberalia ideas of ancient; Rome; we wanted only the “lovesick
ones” with their Thyrsus, diShevelled hair, spears, and serpents.
We may remember that the assumption of the Toga Virilis had to take place
when Virgo had attained her prime, and Sol was rising into Spring power, and
conjoining with Luna. Then the bonds of liberty were relaxed, and a saturnalia
proclaimed; for with “the Scales” had come desires that nature asked freedom in the
exercise of. I am not aware if the churches of Europe also observe such solar periods
for their Confirmation ceremonies, but under the head of Bulla and Toga Virilis
we find noteworthy details of Roman customs, and similar ceremonies prevail in
the East.
The Bulla, in general a much more primitive article than our classical dictionary
writers seem to imagine, and not hung from the neck, but at the foot of the abdomen,
might, at the spring-solstice fetes, under due regulations, and with
many significant and not very occult rites, be laid aside, as also
the Prætexta, and be then formally presented and consecrated to
the Lares, or female energy, as that from whence man and woman
came forth to life. I here give the usual form of an Eastern Bulla;
it is a heart, that is the Ait, or Ain, or seat or “fount of passion,”
as the Egyptians called it. Smith’s Dictionary shows one having
the band adorned with fleurs-de-lis, which I should think very
probable; but I have never ventured to so closely scrutinise them, only seeing them
when worn on the parts by children. Strange that Europe should now worship this form
of heart, yet a Bulla signified “a bubble floating upon water,” and hence is the emblem
of fertility and Salacia. Bacchus embraces the signification of water as the medium of life
and spirit, and Bacchus or Liber is very much connected with this matter. With the
Greeks he was not only Akkos or Iakkos (our Jack in the box), but was the Sun-God
Aka, a Bull; and A, their first letter, represented him, as well as Oin and Oinos, wine,
which points suspiciously to Aidoion, the pudendum. In Latin Bacchus was Bon, Bonus,
and Jeios but invoked usually as Ie ('I¾), from which we have Ieous Jeous, Jesus, &c.
The cry was usually held to be Heva, or Eva, for the aspiration is unnecessary. In
Sanskrit Iva is Viswajeni, or Prakriti, the universal mother. She has been represented
by the astronomical hieroglyph used for Venus; for the Sanskrit I, when detatched, is a
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Fig 109.—THE BULLA.