There is one legend which is almost common to any significant culture we know. A great legend so inspiring that made this symbol one of the most famous ones in Human History and even a widely identifiable logo for several companies nowadays! It’s the Phoenix!
Phoenix in Ancient Civilisations
The Egyptian Civilization, the Greek Civilization, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Indian, the Aztec, the Persian, the Assyrian and even the Jewish one respected this creature very much and they referred to Phoenix using several names but always as the Bird of the Sun and Fire, magnificent , wise and beautiful!
Egypt, where all begun…
Most scholars believe that the very first civilization who stated about the Phoenix is the Egyptians, where he is referred as the Bennu / Benu bird (a heron like bird), the Soul of Ra. The moment where all Creation starts is when the Bennu bird stood on the Pyramid or the Primeval Mount(Primeval Island), which was evoked from the Eternal Waters. According to the Egyptian Theology, Bennu bird perched a bit on the Pyramid and then he started singing.
The voice of the Phoenix was the Cosmic starting Point. In the Egyptian “Book of the Dead”, Phoenix himself states that “I’m made from the material of Gods”. And the Egyptians really respected that, especially the cult of Ra, Osiris and Horus. The Phoenix is also referred by the Egyptians as the Ascending one and the Lord of the Jubilees. However, the word Phoenix is a Greek one, (φοίνιξ) , and it comes from the word “(φοινός) which actually means the Crimson Red, he who has the color of blood.
Ancient Greece, a sacred Symbol of Apollo
The Phoenix for the Greeks (& Romans) was an eagle like Bird with a colorful plumage tail, associated with the God Apollo and his cult. In the Greek variation of the myth, the Phoenix is the bird of the Sun living for many, many years (400, 500, 1000 years depends on the myth). There is only one Phoenix and he is male. The species is not just rare, Phoenix is the only one and he doesn’t reproduce himself, but he just sacrifices himself and resurrects from his ashes.
Herodotus, the great ancient Greek historian noted:
“They have also another sacred bird called the phoenix which I myself have never seen, except in pictures. because they are quite infrequent visitors to the country, even in Egypt, only coming there (according to the accounts of the people of Heliopolis) once in 500 years, when the old phoenix dies. …the plumage is partly red, partly golden, while the general make and size are almost exactly that of the eagle. … that he comes all the way from Arabia, and brings the parent bird, all plastered over with myrrh, to the temple of the Sun, and there buries the body. …, he first forms a ball of myrrh as big as he finds that he can carry; then he hollows out the ball, and puts his parent inside, after which he covers over the opening with fresh myrrh, and the ball is then of exactly the same weight as at first; so he brings it to Egypt, plastered over as I have said, and deposits it in the temple of the Sun. Such is the story they tell of the doings of this bird.”
Roman Empire’s legend…
While the Latin poet Ovid states “Most beings spring from other individuals; but there is a certain kind which reproduces itself. The Assyrians call it the Phoenix. It does not live on fruit or flowers, but on frankincense and odoriferous gums. When it has lived five hundred years, it builds itself a nest in the branches of an oak, or on the top of a palm tree. In this it collects cinnamon, and spikenard, and myrrh, and of these materials builds a pile on which it deposits itself, and dying, breathes out its last breath amidst odours.
From the body of the parent bird, a young Phoenix comes forth, destined to live as long a life as its predecessor. When this has grown up and gained sufficient strength, it lifts its nest … and carries it to the city of Heliopolis in Egypt, and deposits it in the temple of the Sun.”
Phoenix, the Universal Sacred Soul of the Sun
So the Phoenix is believed to live his extended life, but when the time comes he returns to Heliopolis (in Greek means the City of the Sun), the center of Ra’’s cult and he bursts into flames but then in the 3rd day he resurrects himself. It is believed that even the chariot of the Sun would stop in order to listen to his wonderful song. Flavius Philostratus (c. AD 170) agrees with most of these but he places this magnificent creature in India.
Flavious wrote the famous biography “Life of Apollonius of Tyana”. Phoenix is associated with the Hindu God Vishnu, one of the three Greatest Gods, the Trimurti. Vishnu’s Vehicle/Vessel is Garunda, a bird looking like Phoenix, but Phoenix in recent scholars is also associated with the God Surya, the Sun God.
Phoenix in China, Japan and Feng Shui
In the Chinese civilization, Phoenix is known as Feng-Huang or Fenghuang and he is believed to be the Emperor of all Birds and flying creatures. Fenghuang is the Sun’s Bird, protector of the South, associated directly with the Element of Fire (Feng-Huang is also a symbol of Fire itself). Moreover, Feng-Huang is a significant and widely used benevolent symbol in Feng Shui tradition.
The symbol of Phoenix is utilized by Chinese practitioners to empower the element of Fire in one’s life and helps people achieve Fame, Success and Vitality. Fenghuang is the symbol of the Chinese Empress while the Dragon (protector of the East) is the symbol of the Chinese Emperor.
Feng Shui Tip for Love and Happy Marriage
An image of a the sacred bird and a Dragon is the best Feng Shui remedy for Love and perfect home happiness, because they believed to be the perfect couple, eternally loving and protecting each other.
In Japanese culture, the sacred bird is known as Hou-ou or Ho-o and has similar aspects as the Chinese one. Japanese empire adopted Phoenix as the symbol of the Empress. The sight of a Phoenix is considered very rare in both traditions and he appears only to mark the coming of a great leader or a new Era. In the Persian civilization is known as Simurgh, in Turkish traditions he is called as Kerkes and in Russian one as Zhar-Ptitsa.
Phoenix in Jewish and Christian Culture
In Jewish literature is a wise bird called Milham or Hol / Chol. According to their tradition when Eve ate the Apple from the Apple tree of Good and Evil in Eden, she tried to feed it to all animals. One creature resisted, thus God in order to honor him, He granted the Phoenix eternal life and the ability to die and resurrect from his ashes. *Job 29:18-19 “… I thought I would end my days with my family, and be as long-lived as the Phoenix (Hol)”, while in Bereshit Rabbah (a religious sacred text from Judaism”s classical period )19:5 “ Eve gave the cattle, beasts and birds to eat of it (the forbidden apple).
All obeyed and ate of it, except a certain bird named Chol, as it is written, then I said: I shall die with my nest and I shall multiply my days as the Chol!” The early Christians saw in the symbol of Phoenix, a representation of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection. Still the holy bird decorate many churches along the globe. In Christian tradition, he symbolizes the victory of Life over the dominion of Death.
Phoenix in Alchemy and Witchcraft
In alchemy the he symbolizes the Global ressurection of life and the best outcome of a procedure. Phoenix is associated with the Red color in alchemy. He is a symbol used by many hermetic orders such as the Masons, the Freemasons and the Rosicrucians. The sacred Phoenix and Magic Now let”s get to the chase! Phoenix is a very mighty Spirit, a respectful guardian, a wise patron for everyone who calls him. Interestingly Phoenix doesn”t present himself as a God in no tradition but he is always a powerful entity. Mages, monks, wizards, shamans, sorcerers, witches, alchemists, priests call for his power since the beginning of the human history.
The Phoenix by Robert M. Place, creator of the Alchemical Tarot and the Burning Serpent oracle. Visit his Websites for more information http://burningserpent.com http://alchemicaltarot.com http://robertmplacetarot.com
The Phoenix, the sacred Sun bird can be invoked:
- for Protection (especially from Fire or evil entities),
- for Jinx Removing, Banishing & Uncrossing
- to deepen your Knowledge in Witchcraft
- Fire magic
- Awareness over our past Incarnations
- Fame and Success
- Vitality and Beauty
- for empowering your Faith
- to overcome Difficulties, to be Reborn from your “ashes”!
How to Summon the Phoenix?
Invoke the Phoenix by calling him Bennu and by burning Cinnamon, Spikenard, and Myrrh in front of a picture of him. Summon him preferably in Sunlight, on Sunday during the planetary hour of the Sun (other suitable hours can be the one who belong to Mars). Tell him your problems and ask for his mighty assistance. Respect him and never try to command him. Ask him politely, after all, he is the true king of Fire, the Sun’s bird, the Lord of the Jubilees, the protector of the South. (Click here for a detailed ritual to summon the sacred bird of Fire). For More information and the hymn to invoke the Sacred Phoenix click here!
