Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

STRIDES OF THE SOUL

Symbolic of the successive stages in the development of the soul during the cycle of manifestation.

“I (the Osiris) am the hidden Bennu bird; I enter in as he resteth in the Tuat, and I come forth as he resteth in the Tuat. I am the lord of the celestial abodes and I journey through the night sky after Rā. My offerings are in heaven in the Field of Ra, and my sepulchral meals are on earth in the field of Aaru. I travel through the Tuat like the beings who are with Ra, and I weigh words like the god Thoth. I stretch myself at my desire, I run forward with my strides in my spiritual form of hidden qualities, and my transformations are those of the double god Horus‑Set.” — Budge, *Book of the Dead*, Ch. CLXXX.

I, the perfect one, am the indwelling spiritual ego. I enter into the lower nature when the Self has completed involution (rests), and I then commence to evolve. My home is on the higher planes, for my nature is atma‑buddhic, and I progress through the cycle with the incarnate Self (Rā). My transmuted qualities are on the buddhic plane, and my experience is undergone in the lower nature (earth) on the astro‑mental plane (Aaru). I advance through the cycle (Tuat) as do the higher qualities which are in harmony with the Self, and I find expression through intuition in the higher mind (Thoth). I seek enlarged conditions and expansion of consciousness. I progress in successive stages of initiations in accordance with the archetypal faculties and qualities latent within me; and my manifesting aspects are the same as those of the Self (Horus) limited (Set) in order to manifest. The duality of Energy and its Limitations is a necessary condition of Divine manifestation.

“Amid the selfish animal principles of our nature there is a voice which speaks of Duty, an idea grander than the largest personal interest — the Idea of Excellence, of Perfection. Here is the seal of Divinity on us; here the sign of our descent from God. It is in writing this inward law on the heart, it is in giving us the conception of Moral Goodness, and the power to strive after it, the power of self‑conflict and self‑denial, of surrendering pleasure to duty, and of suffering for the right, the true, and the good; it is in thus enduing us that God’s goodness shines.” — W. E. Channing, *Sermon on Dr. Follen*.

See Also

APES (Nine)
BENNU BIRD
DEFUNCT
EARTH
EVOLUTION
EXPERIENCE
FIELD
FOOD FOR MAN
FOOTSTEPS
HORUS
INCARNATION
INITIATIONS
INTUITION
INVOLUTION
NIGHT
OFFERINGS
OSIRIS
PATRIARCHS
RĂ
SAMSARA
SEKHET-AARU
SEPULCHRE
SET
SI-OSIRI
SKY
SPARK
THOTH
TUAT
WALKS
YEAR
YEARS
ZODIAC