In the book of Genesis, we read of a figure best described as the “Guardian of the Threshold,” an angel with a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life symbolizes the resurrection impulse, also known by Christians as “Christ Consciousness” and Hindus as “Krishna Consciousness.” Why is there an apparent impediment to the resurrection impulse, to God‘s restorative energy?
Many of us live at the surface, avoiding the light and shadows within our own interior depths. We tend to want elevator music, superficial happiness. The resurrection impulse is buried within the deepest pockets of our souls. We are unable to access this divine impulse without first traversing in and through the various aspects of the interior shadows beneath the surface self. We have to look at our own degenerative tendencies that are often beyond the reach of our conscious awareness or we will merely project our shadows onto others. For example, as we justifiably demonize Putin, we must also come to terms with our own interior demons.
In this context, the Guardian of the Threshold is actually a friend and a guide. Valentin Tomberg writes, “ The Guardian of the Threshold is our elder brother and servant of God who helps us with infinite kindness and superhuman wisdom—though with perfect truthfulness—to advance from the surface to the depths.” Translation: the Guardian of the Threshold shines light on our shadows to reveal those degenerative forces at work in our own psyches. This is not a comfortable process at all, yet is the necessary pathway into the stream of resurrection energy. Identifying and facing our shadows takes courage and faith in God’s goodness and mercy. Yogananda, who went through this process under the direction of Sri Yukteswar, writes, “I am immeasurably grateful for the humbling blows he dealt my vanity. I sometimes felt that, metaphorically, he was discovering and uprooting every diseased tooth in my jaw. The hard core of egotism is difficult to dislodge except rudely. With its departure, the divine finds at last an unobstructed channel. In vain it seeks to percolate through flinty hearts of selfishness.”
Divine Mother,
With your grace,
I will approach the Guardian of the Threshold
And listen to what he tells me
With perfect kindness
And honesty.
