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Understanding Biblical Symbolism


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GENESIS 1:16

"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."

In biblical symbolism, this verse describes the two governing powers within the inner anatomy of the soul, the higher and lower lights of consciousness and the multitude of subsidiary faculties that arise from them.

“Two great lights”

These are the two ruling principles within the anatomy of human consciousness:
- the greater light = the Higher Self, the spiritual consciousness, the Christ‑Light, the individuality
- the lesser light = the lower mind, the reflective intellect, the psychic nature, the personality

The greater light shines by its own radiance; the lesser light shines by reflection, borrowing its illumination from above.

“To rule the day”

The “day” symbolizes the state of spiritual clarity, when the soul is aligned with its higher nature.

Here the greater light (the inner Christ) governs, directing thought, emotion, and will from the level of the Monad‑center.

“To rule the night”

The “night” symbolizes the state of ordinary consciousness, where the lower mind operates through reflection, memory, and sense‑derived impressions.

The lesser light rules here, not as an enemy, but as a necessary administrator of the outer physical life.

“He made the stars also”

The stars represent the many subsidiary faculties of the soul, intuitions, insights, virtues, and subtle powers each shining with its own degree of borrowed light.

They are the sparks of consciousness that guide the soul through the varied experiences of the inner firmament.

Thus Genesis 1:16 describes the hierarchy of inner illumination:
- the Higher (Christ) Self as the sun‑light of the soul, love
- the lower mind as the moon‑light of reflection, intellect
- the soul’s many faculties as stars, each receiving its measure of radiance

It is the ordering of consciousness from the Divine‑center outward into the layered structure of the self.

From the Higher Self (sun), the personality (moon), and the mental faculties (stars) there flow wisdom (milk), and truth (water), to nourish the soul.

The Esoteric Message.....
The Higher Self (Christ Consciousness) is the soul’s greater light, the lower mind its lesser light, and all the soul’s faculties shine as stars receiving their illumination from the inner Divine center.

 

See Also

BIBLE VERSES

GENESIS 1:1

GENESIS 1:11

GENESIS 1:15
GENESIS 1:16

GENESIS 6:19