Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

136 Bacchic Mysteries.JCeres, upon discovering the loss of her daughter, with lighted torches, and begirt with aserpent, wandered over the whole earth forthe purpose of finding her till she came toEleusis ;there she found her daughter, andalso taught to the Eleusinians the cultivationof corn."" Now in this fable Ceres represents1the evolution of that intuitional part of ournature which we properly denominate intellect* (or the unfolding of the intuitionalfacultyof the mind from its quietand collected condition in the world of thought) ;and Proserpina that living, self -moving, andanimating part which we call soul.But lestthis comparing of unfolded intellect to Ceresshould seem ridiculous to the reader, unacquainted with the Orphic theology, it is necessary to inform him that this goddess, fromher intimate union with Rhea, in conjunction with whom she produced Jupiter, is* Also denominated by Kant, Pure reason, and by Prof. Cocker,Intuitive reason.It was considered by Plato, as"not amenable tothe conditions of time and space, but in a particular sense, asdwelling in eternity :and therefore capable of beholding eternalrealities, and coming into communion with absolute beauty, andgoodness, and truth that is, with God, the Absolute Being."