[777 The Great Work]

Originally Posted by NewParadigmGuy

Here is the pineal statue at the Vatican:



I wonder what those birds next to it are doing? Also, what is that thing in front of it?

The coffin in front is symbolic of resurection from the dead.

The main attribute of the bird is having their domain the air element.They mediate between the earthly realm and the heaven world. The alchemist in observing the flight of birds, recognised in them a picture of the human soul undergoing spiritual development.

The soul, aspiring upwards, flying free of the restraints of the earth bound body seeking the heavenly light, only to have to return to the earthly consciousness again after the meditation, the alchemist symbolised by the bird. Thus the bird symbols, in alchemy, reflect the inner experiences of soul alchemy, the soaring of the soul free from the earth bound body and the physical senses.