MEHET-WERET (great flood)
This artwork contains symbolism and interpretive keys rooted in theosophical, philosophical and sacred texts. To deeply understand these elements, it is necessary to delve into these teachings, exploring spiritual and metaphysical concepts present in universal traditions. You have been invited to approach it with curiosity and openness, as each detail holds layers of meaning beyond the surface.
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"I am the one who came into being by myself, arising from the waters of chaos".
| The Egyptian coffin texts |
In Egyptian cosmogony, Nun is described as the primordial ocean, the undifferentiated substance that existed before any creation. It is the formless, boundless abyss, the absolute potential that contains all things in their latent state. Nun is the point of origin but also the infinite void where the universe rested before emerging. In this sense, it aligns with the concept of the Absolute found in Hermetic and Theosophical philosophy, representing the First Logos: the immutable and transcendent unity from which all things derive but which remains beyond all distinctions.
“For it was limitless darkness in the abyss and water and a fine intelligent spirit that permeated the things in chaos by divine power”.
| 3rd Hermes sacred speech - Corpus Hermeticum |
Nun represents pure transcendence. It is a state beyond any manifestation, yet, paradoxically, it carries within itself the possibility of all manifestations. In Hermeticism, this echoes the axiom "All is Mind," where material creation is a projection of the mental. In Theosophy, the First Logos is the divine consciousness that has not yet divided, being the immortal and unlimited essence. The whirling cross, or swastika, appears in many ancient cultures as a symbol of cosmic dynamics. It represents motion, the creative energy that emerges from a state of absolute rest.
In the Egyptian and Theosophical context, it can be related to the Second Logos, the energy that transforms the potential of Nun into a creative act. This “cosmic dance” symbolizes the flow of energy that organizes chaos and brings about order. The swastika is not merely a symbol of motion; it is also the acknowledgment that all progress, whether spiritual or material, arises from the balance of opposites, reflecting the cyclical and harmonious nature of creation.
Within this creative dynamic, we find Mehet-Weret, the “Great Flood,” as the creative principle that propels existence. She is seen as the manifestation of the primordial impulse that shapes the universe, carrying the sun on her back and inaugurating the cycle of time and matter. In Theosophical terms, she can be interpreted as the Third Logos, the divine intelligence that organizes raw energy into defined forms. Mehet-Weret is not merely a creator deity; she symbolizes the interaction between spiritual intuition and material expression.
"The TAO that can be spoken is not the eternal TAO. The name that can be uttered is not the eternal Name.
The origin of Heaven and Earth I call 'non-being.' The mother of individual beings I call 'being.'
Turning towards 'non-being' leads to the wondrous contemplation of Essence;
Turning towards 'being' leads to the contemplation of spatial limitations”.
| 1st Aphorism - Tao Te Ching |
Nun, in the metaphysical Taoist context, can be understood as Wuji, the absolute and boundless void, the primordial potential that precedes all duality. From Wuji emerges Taiji, the harmonious manifestation of the TAO as Yin and Yang. In this symbolism, Yang represents the cosmic chaos in its latent state, while Yin reflects the underlying purpose of creation. Wu-Wei, or conscious non-action, aligns with Mehet-Weret, as she embodies the harmonious reflection of the Tao, silently operating in the transformation of potential into manifestation.
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”
| Genesis 1:2 |
Thus, the Egyptian creation myth is not merely a narrative about the universe's origin but a symbolic journey that reflects our own evolution. From Nun, the transcendent essence, through the whirling cross that animates potential into motion, to Mehet-Weret, who shapes energy into tangible manifestations, we are invited to recognize that creation is both a universal event and an internal process.
Finally, we can observe an essential correspondence between spiritual traditions when considering that "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma"—"All this is Brahman"—and the biblical verse describing the Spirit of God moving upon the waters reveal the same idea: the universe manifests a unique and indivisible essence. Even when described in different languages, this principle reminds us that we are intrinsically part of this unity, a living expression of the cosmos.
