The Phoenix as a Summer Symbol
choosing the fire of transformation
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Even thus by the great sages 'tis confessed
The phoenix dies, and then is born again,
When it approaches its five-hundredth year;
On herb or grain it feeds not in its life,
But only on tears of incense and amomum,
And nard and myrrh are its last winding-sheet.Dante’s Inferno, Canto XXIV:
The Phoenix, sometimes called the Firebird, has seared itself into our collective mythic imagination.
The Phoenix has been imagined and written about by Herodotus, to Pope Clement I, to Dante.
It is likely that the Phoenix passed on to us from Greek and Roman writings extends back to ancient Egypt and their great Bennu Bird, which pre-dates Herodotus in the 5th century BCE.
In Asia, the phoenix reigns over all the birds, symbolizing the Chinese Empress and feminine grace, the sun, and the south.
ThePhoenix/Firebird Symbolizes
renewal
resurrection
the sun
time
empire
consecration
life in Paradise
Christ
Mary
virginity
the exceptional Human
cosmic fire
goodness
duty
propriety
kindness
reliability
The Phoenix is also an alchemical symbol. It represents the changes during chemical reactions and progression through colors and properties of matter, and it relates to the steps of alchemy in making the Great Work, or the Philosopher’s Stone.
Modern additions to the myth in popular culture say the tears of the phoenix have great healing powers, and if the phoenix is near, one cannot tell a lie.
Continually morphing and re-morphing, the phoenix represents the idea that the end is only the beginning.
The Ritual of Transformation
When it feels its end approaching, it builds a nest with the finest aromatic woods, sets it on fire, and is consumed by the flames. From the pile of ashes, a new Phoenix arises, young and powerful. It then embalms the ashes of its predecessor in an egg of myrrh, and flies to the city of the Sun, Heliopolis, where it deposits the egg on the altar of the Sun God. ~ Tina Garnet,The Phoenix in Egyptian, Arab, & Greek Mythology
The Phoenix holds the deep-seated knowledge that life is cyclical. That destruction must precede creation.
Our ancestors would have known these profound truths by observing the earth and the natural processes that occur repeatedly in nature.
As we apply this principle to our own lives, we find that creating rituals around acknowledging what is worn out and no longer helpful, honoring the process of disintegration, and celebrating the amazing creative surge of re-emerging from the ashes becomes a significant way to allow growth, expand edges, and open channels for new knowledge and ways of being.
In the myth, when the Phoenix senses its time to die is drawing near (usually every 500 years), it prepares a nest of the finest aromatic wood. These traditional woods contain fragrant resins used in incense for rituals in pre-Christian times and churches throughout history.
This preparation of a sacred nest or incense is the beginning of the ritual the Phoenix creates for itself.
It is said that with a clap of its wings the Phoenix sets the nest on fire and is consumed.
Notice that the Phoenix itself initiates its own transformation. It acts upon the self-knowledge that what has been has run its course and is ready to be cleared out. Its inner and outer life is ready for cleansing and purifying through fire. It is prepared for the disintegration that will provide the necessary matrix of ashes for rebirth.
The moment of transformation is dramatic, and the rebirth is complete.
The Process of Transformation
Therapy, coaching, meditation, yoga, fitness, and wellness circles often discuss transformation.
More than change, transformation means to change our form in some way—to cross from one way of being to another.
It may be the form or pattern of our thinking, emotional life, or body, or the form of our spiritual beliefs or some other long-held way of thinking, believing, or being.
The Phoenix shows us the process and components of transformation.
Incense is often used as an offering, and the building of a nest is a sacred and safe space where the transformation will take place.
The self-initiation of the transformation. We only ever change or transform when we decide to do so. No amount of external prodding, guilting, or shaming ever motivates lasting transformation.
The often sudden and dramatic shift we feel within.
The collapsing or dis-integration of the old ways.
The ashes of the old are the fertile matrix that will birth the new.
The birth of something completely new, which carries within it the ash/essence of the old, is now reconfigured in dynamic new ways and is full of vitality.
Active Imagination as Part of Transformation
If you‘re new to the technique of active imagination as developed by Carl Jung you will want to read this post, The God Image, to familiarize yourself with this practice and get an overview of what it is and how it is used in inner work.
Transformation and change of any kind can make you feel many things.
Excitement, fear, anticipation, anxiety, uncertainty, confusion, power, and many other blended emotional states.
Using art-making to practice how transformation feels and how it might look is a critical way to develop the capacity to initiate and embrace transformation in your life on any level.
Active Imagination
Using the process of active imagination, you will imagine yourself as the Phoenix or Firebird.
You may visualize, think, listen, sense, feel, or enter this time in many other ways. All are beneficial and will begin to activate the ability to embrace transformation consciously.
Use the guided inner journey below to assist you in your experience of the transforming power of the phoenix.
Art Invitation: Tearing Down and Transforming
In this art process and ritual, you will prepare a "nest" using two images, tearing them up, and reassembling them into something entirely new.
Preparing
The work of consciously initiating transformation happens on several levels: emotionally, energetically, psychologically, and physically.
The process of active imagination from the previous section is one way to prepare. Going through that process helps get you used to transformation and what that process might look and feel like. Using an imaginal and mythic lens, you take that journey safely and a bit removed from everyday life and experiences. We do this because change and transformation can be both difficult and stressful. We want to go slowly and build up the capacity to enter into transformation and work with change mindfully and positively.
Your Nest
Just as the Phoenix builds a nest of aromatic wood that burns as incense, you may want to create a place to work with a space to burn incense, a scented candle, scented wax melts, or use a ceramic holder to heat and diffuse essential oils.
Lavender is calming and relaxing
Lemon and Peppermint are refreshing and stimulating
Jasmine supports an alert state of mind
Rosemary supports memory and relieves stress and nervous tension
Myrrh and Frankincense have both been used for thousands of years as incense to create sacred space
Gathering Images
Find two images.
You may work with pictures of landscapes, people, animals, or objects.
I recommend choosing two of the same type, like two landscapes or two people. But you can always take this in any direction that feels important and aligned with your work and transformation.
One image should represent an old way of being, an old pattern of behavior, an old belief, story, or fear—something that has been clinging to you for a long time and that you know is not beneficial and stands in the way of your future healing, growth, health, and happiness.
The second image should represent a vision of who you could be, how your life could be, what you could do, or how you would feel if you were no longer burdened by this thing clinging to you.
Tear each of these images up.
Mix them together in a bowl or bag.
Stir them and shake them up.
Constructing your Transformation
Use any appealing surface, such as an art journal, rounds, JourneyCircles™, or SoulCollage© cards, and make something from the pieces of both images.
Here, the tearing up represents the bursting into flames of the Phoenix/Firebird.
That same kind of purposeful destruction is energetically at work in this act of tearing as when the Phoenix bursts into flames. It is the power of destruction to clear blockages and move stagnant energy.
You are tapping into the shadow side of the Creator archetype, consciously and with a greater healing purpose in mind.
By using as many pieces as possible from both images, you consciously acknowledge that your past experiences, beliefs, ideas, and ways of being have value, even if they are only valuable in bringing you to this moment of transformation.
The new artwork will hold both the elements of the past that have been destroyed to become the fertile matrix that will support the transformation that happens within and a vision (perhaps still fragmented and not wholly clear yet) of who and what you are becoming.
Just as the Phoenix/Firebird is reborn as a chick, your transformation will begin young, tender, and a bit vulnerable. You will need time to grow into your newly transformed self.
By using the active imagination process and art as a ritual, you are helping yourself become acclimated to the possibility of transformation, testing the waters, and getting a sense of what it feels like to embark on a journey of transformation.
Transforming oneself from one way of being to another can feel scary, produce anxiety, and bring up the voice of the inner critic in any form. Active imagination and art-making provide a gentle and gradual way to prepare yourself for transformation in your life.
Amazingly, as you use active imagination and art as a process, your brain still experiences transformation, which means that transformation occurs below the surface of our everyday thinking mind. New patterns, ways of thinking, and ways of being are beginning to take root even before you consciously and purposefully change your thoughts, beliefs, or behavior in everyday life.
Art & Imagination
The creative process, hands-on art-making, and active imagination help you develop your inner work in a way that brings personal symbols and insights to the forefront of your conscious awareness, allowing you to become more fully alive to your most authentic essence. Like dream work, active imagination and art-making help you explore your inner world and interact with the worlds beyond the ordinary. If you are already an artist or someone who loves working with the creative process, I can help you discover the potential in what you do that supports your personal growth, healing, and transformation. Jungian-informed 1:1 Creative Depth Coaching and Tarot Coaching emphasize the symbolic world, the intuitive interpretation of images, and the archetypal patterns that move through the symbols that speak to you, offering a wide range of possibilities to explore.
The comments section is a safe and welcoming space to share your insights and experiences.
Comments and conversation are always appreciated and enjoyed, so feel free to let your voice be heard. I read them all and try to respond to each one.
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PS
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Rebirth. Now
Thank-you, Jan!
I especially appreciate that you’ve directed us to “choice;” and the power of self-ignited initiation.
The phoenix is a provocative metaphor and symbol of that—self-empowered transformation.
A wise man-teacher once told me: our ability to create is only as potent as our willingness to destroy.