The Myth Of The Phoenix, Or The Wonderful Power Of Resilience

Carl Gustav Jung explained to us in his book Metamorphoses of the Soul and its Symbols that the human being and the Phoenix have many similarities. This iconic fiery creature capable of being reborn majestically from its ashes also symbolizes the power of resilience, this unparalleled ability allowing us to renew ourselves to become much stronger, much more courageous and much more luminous beings.

If there is one myth that has nourished almost all the doctrines, cultures and legendary roots of our countries, it is undoubtedly the one that refers to the Phoenix. It is said of him that his tears had healing power, that he exhibited great physical resistance, that he mastered fire and that he was characterized by infinite wisdom. He was, in essence, one of Jung’s most powerful architects, for in his fire was both creation and destruction, life and death …

Thus, it is interesting to know that we find very early in history references to its mythology, both in Arabic poetry and in Greco-Roman culture, and even in a large part of the historical legacy of the East. . In China, for example, the Phoenix, or Feng Huang, not only symbolizes the highest virtue, power or prosperity, but also represents yin and yang, that duality that conforms all that exists in the universe.

However, and it is worth remembering this, it is in Ancient Egypt that the first cultural and religious testimonies appear around this figure and where it is given shape to this image that we have today on resilience. Every detail, nuance and symbol that profiles this myth undoubtedly offers us a good exercise to reflect on.

Viktor Frankl, neuro-psychiatrist and founder of logotherapy, survived the torture of concentration camps. As he explained in most of his books, a traumatic experience is always negative, however, what happens from it depends on each individual. It depends on us to rise again, to cover the life of our ashes in an unequaled triumph or on the contrary, to be satisfied to vegetate, to destroy ourselves …

This admirable ability to renew ourselves, to regain our breath, our desire and our strength from our miseries and our broken glasses first goes through a truly obscure phase that many will no doubt have experienced: we are talking about you here about the death”. When we go through a traumatic moment, we “will all die a little bit”, we let go of a part of ourselves that will never come back that will never be the same again.

So, and among all the myths around this figure, it is the Egyptian myth that offers us, as we tell you, these key points on which we should stop to better understand the relationship of the Phoenix with resilience. Read the rest of this article to find out more!

Ovid explained in his texts that in Egypt, the Phoenix died and was reborn once every 500 years. For the Egyptians, this majestic heron was Bennu, a bird associated with the floods of the Nile, the sun and death. According to what they explained, he was born under the tree of Good and Evil. This fantastic creature understood that it was necessary to renew herself from time to time to acquire greater wisdom and for this she followed a very meticulous process.

The Phoenix roamed the Egyptian skies to build a nest with the most beautiful elements: cinnamon sticks, oak branches, tuberose and myrrh. Then, well installed in his nest, he sang one of the most beautiful melodies that the Egyptians had never heard and then let the flames consume him completely. Three days later, the Phoenix rose from its ashes full of strength and power. Subsequently, he took his nest and left it in Heliopolis, in the temple of the Sun, to thus initiate a new cycle and at the same time to offer inspiration to the Egyptian people.

As we have seen, the Egyptian myth of the Phoenix is ​​a very beautiful story. However, now let’s analyze one of its details. Let’s take a look at how the Phoenix builds its nest, for example ; he seeks the richest materials of his land, those which combine both delicacy and strength, and which will help him in his transformation, in his ascension.

If you think about it, this process is quite similar to that which conforms the psychological dimension of resilience. Because it is also us who seek these magic elements with which to build a very resistant nest where to gather its forces.

All these components will help us in our ascent but not without first being aware of one aspect: that there will be an end, that a part of ourselves will also go away, that it will be reduced to ashes. , in the remains of a past that will never return.

However, these ashes, the wind will not carry them away, on the contrary. They will be part of us to give shape to a being who is reborn from the fire much stronger, bigger, wiser… Someone who perhaps is a source of inspiration for others but who, above all, we will allow you to go forward with your head held high and your wings wide open.