Zen Gardner – In ancient days there were philosopher kings and queens, sages and wise councils who led, or rather encouraged, mankind. They did this by their innate understanding, not by force or decree, but by loving and compassionate empowerment and without hierarchy. They simply pointed the way for humanity to discover its own true self by conscious awakening and the realization of its true potential.

Truly benign and loving sages, shamans and elders who sought the best for humanity.

Sad to say however, those days were usually scuttled by blood thirsty power mongers, as in the days of ancient Greece and other more enlightened civilizations being overthrown by warlords, or as in the cases of the deliberate evisceration of native peoples across the world. No doubt this cycle has been repeated for millennia, even before recorded history.

Memes of these ancient struggles have been passed down through so-called myths and legends, and have often been immortalized by works of art and literature. The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien is one example; part myth, and a large part hidden truth. The Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer, a classic for centuries, is another. Modern culture has repeated these archetypal imprints furiously in an effort to play upon these deeply known truths in the human heart. Unfortunately, it has usually been to fictionalize and distance these great truths in the societal engineers’ efforts to further alienate us from their profound meaning and significance.

The Ring of Truth – Or Power?

It’s interesting how the image of the ring has been so predominant in these ancient and modern stories. The placing of the ring on rulers, be they crowns or literal rings on the hand, has signified some form of generally accepted authority for eons. Continue reading →