The Advent of Dionysus / Gerarai / The Fourteen / 4.04

11. Penelope

Penelope was the wife of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and Greek leader in the Trojan War, a war which lasted 10 years. After which, Odysseus wandered another 10 years before returning home, and was absent 20 years altogether. In The Odyssey, Homer's epic recount to Odysseus' voyage home, Penelope was to ward off the hoard of greedy vultures—called suitors—who wined and dined in her house at her expense, while picking at her husband's remains. Penelope is therefore synonymous with the faithful wife.

Well Odysseus has at long last returned to Ithaca! To New York—the 11th state! After all these many years—20 centuries! To reclaim his beloved Penelope—The Statue of Liberty! And to cast out the swine and vermin that have collected in his vineyard! It paints an interesting scenario anyway, as I'm referring to Christ. And, as he returns in his 21st year (century), his reconciliation to Penelope becomes a second or spiritual marriage (21) or, second honeymoon (22). Exemplified by the numbers 20 + 02, or 20 years reciprocally, which add up to 22. (See below.)

While it's significant that at the time I developed this, I had several dreams about going to New York City. Some were like an all out war, where I found myself up against an evil hoard. Remember the movie, The Warriors? Was I there to clean house? And an onslaught ensued—it was very gory—and none could prevail against me! Sound like Odysseus' homecoming? Whereas in chapter 11, I recount my own story.

Penelope also portrays androgyny, the joining of the masculine qualities (10) and the feminine qualities (01) in marriage (11): 10 + 01 = 11. Which are the two sides of the human brain, the left side which is rational, and the right which is intuitive, that come together as one composite. Exemplified by the number 10 which, when read from left to right (10), signifies the rational mind—the height of man's objectivity—as read in English, a language based on the rational sense. Whereas in Hebrew, a language based on the intuitive sense, that reads from right to left, the number 10 would read as "01." This is illustrated further in chapter 8.

Hence it took Odysseus 10 years to establish his objective: to win the Trojan War. And as he travels from Greece to Asia Minor, from west to east (left to right), the number 10 would read as "10." As it took another 10 years to get home, from east to west (right to left), it would read "01." Thus when added, 10 + 01, you get 11. (He headed home in the 11th year.) Similarly, the number 11 portrays the two witnesses, as detailed in

Revelation 11 (vs 4). These are called the two candlesticks, which is clearly indicative to the number 11.

This union is further illustrated by the thought stream. For when one is objective to one's thoughts (objectivity), it would be like standing on the bank of a stream and watching the water flow by—the number 10. Whereas when one is subject to or caught up in one's thoughts (subjectivity), it would be like standing in the middle of or floating down stream—the number 01. Thus by constructing a reservoir, which conveys the masculine or form (10), and filling it with water, the feminine or essence (01), you have Aquarius—The Water Bearer, the 11th sign of the zodiac. Which gives you a place to swim or bathe, which has its reference to baptism: and introduces Pisces—The Fish, the 12th sign. And here I have a freshwater aquarium at home which represents something similar: it signifies the woman's intellect, as detailed in Joyce (10), although the number 101 corresponds more to Cindy (3).

It's therefore interesting how Penelope sounds like Peneus, the river god and father of Daphne (1). Perhaps Peneus portrays the number 10—or 10 cents—which is of the understanding, as a river signifies. To which the addition of one penny, short for Penelope, adds up to 11 cents. Thus signifying the reciprocation or completion of the understanding, with respect to Daphne. This can be seen in that Penelope is musically the same as Sybil (4): that part of a woman, her will, that looks the man in the face. While Penelope herself has a very profound look, in acknowledgment to her husband or masculine side, to which implicit consent is implied. Of the fourteen Gerarai Penelope has the most profound look, with Sybil a close second.

"Herd the Cows"

12. Judith

Judith is the feminine of Judah, the 4th son of Jacob, and father to the tribe of Judah, from which the Jewish Nation sprang. Similarly, the Virgin Mary was a Jewess, and corresponds to Sybil or, the 4th. Essentially the reciprocation of Sybil, Judith is more the intellectual, as the number 40 signifies: as compared to 04 ..."474." Thus when added, 40 + 04, you get 44, which corresponds to Jennifer, the man's wife or will. (See Jennifer, also Penelope.)

Judith signifies The Advent of the New Church, as portrayed in

Revelation 12: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." (vs 1). And here the New Church has manifested itself in heaven, and is about to become manifest on the earth: signified by the moon under her feet. The two are to coincide, for a church in heaven can't exist unless a church on earth exists. (I give the account of my own experience here in chapter 6.) And being clothed with the sun, signifies the quality of love, of this church to The Lord. With the crown of 12 stars, signifying the wisdom and intelligence—of the understanding—to be associated with it. (And here 12 is harmonically the same as the number 5, the bridegroom or understanding.) This has all been thoroughly detailed in Swedenborg's Apocalypse Revealed.

"And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to bring forth."

vs 2 Hence the birth of a child signifies the new doctrine, which is about to be brought forth (as Swedenborg explains). The difficulty experienced is on account of its reception, by those affiliated with the dragon.

vs 3-4 Something similar is signified by Rachel (14), who went into hard labor and died, while giving birth to Benjamin, the 12th son of Jacob: while journeying from Bethel, to a little way before Ephrath (Bethlehem).

Genesis 35:16-20 Similarly, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem.

"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron."

vs 5 While this seems applicable to the Virgin Mary, and to some extent is, it really speaks of the church which is yet to come. Similarly this is the sort of experience that happened to me, as I relate in the next chapter. And though I'm not a woman, it's to be viewed this way, for it portrays the Church of Man, often viewed as a woman before God: "And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

Revelation 21:2 Swedenborg also had a similar experience, as he relates in The Apocalypse Revealed.

Thus Dionysus (hence the name Dennis) was named for the divine nurses (Dio/nysus) who cared for him as a little boy. And when thinking of divine nurses, it brings to mind holy hospital, which is another name for church. Dionysus can thus be viewed correspondently with The Church. Another thing I recall after determining Judith's name, was the dream I had the night of the rebirth experience: I was going to my cousin Judy's house in Fortuna, California. Also, my cousin has recently remarried (in 1988), and her husband's name was Ben: which is short for Benjamin, the 12th son!

One way of depicting the above relationship between Judith and Rachel, is to multiply the number 12 by itself (12 x 12). The number you come up with is 144, which corresponds to Sybil (4) and to the Virgin Mary. While it's the correspondence of Sybil (4) to Rachel (14) or, 14: 4. Similarly it corresponds to

Revelation 14: the 144 thousand standing on Mount Zion in verse 1, and the undefiled virgins in verse 4—i.e., chapter 14: verse 4. And here, a virgin, in the spiritual sense, signifies someone who hasn't defiled the truth, and hence the articles of faith of the New Church. And it follows they haven't defiled themselves with women, for in the spiritual sense a woman signifies The Church, or its opposite, The Whore. (Please see Sybil.)

Perhaps the best number to view Judith with is 2112: as corresponds to Karen (7), The Bride Unveiled (i.e., Revelation 21), and to Judith (12), The Advent of the New Church.

Revelation 12 Thus showing Karen is the true bride—the understanding of—and directly corresponds to Judith, the New Church. While it also refers to the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem in

Revelation 21:12.

As I've already said, the seventh church will be instituted in the year 2010 (23 years after 1987). Which is partly illustrated when taking the number 2010, and adding the number 0102—its reciprocal. And thus signifies the joining of the masculine and feminine qualities, in marriage (see Penelope), resulting with 2112. The year 2010 also occurs in the 21st century, as concurs with

Revelation 21. I also have other examples that correlate here, but I won't be relating them now. (See chapter 11.)

"Tend the Sheep"

13.Leah

Leah was the sister of Rachel, the two daughters of Laban, and two wives of Jacob. Leah was the oldest, and through the deceit of Laban, was sent into Jacob's tent on his wedding night. Jacob was supposed to marry Rachel, who he loved and served Laban seven years for—i.e., work. (See Rachel.) What Leah signifies is the woman manifest in the man, as she "resides within." Which is actually the "man himself," in his ultimate relating with her. What will be illustrated as follows.

Basically there are four elements that go into the celestial marriage, the highest aspect of marriage (what I speak of elsewhere, in chapters 7 and 12). These are: the joining of two minds, "reciprocally," signified by Penelope (11); the birth of a child, "or doctrine," attesting to the "consummation of marriage," signified by Judith (12); the woman manifest in the man, or his "ultimate relating" with his wife, signified by Leah (13); and, the man manifest in the woman, or her "ultimate relating" with her husband, signified by Rachel (14).

This also compares with the construction of "a house"—which, is synonymous with building "a church." Penelope signifies the procurement of the "courtyard" or grounds, including the foundation: as secured by the two witnesses, in chapter "11" of the book of Revelation (comparable to Odysseus' wanderings). Judith signifies the construction of the house, or its exteriors, as it rests on the foundation—i.e., The Church. Leah signifies the house as to its interiors, central to the "living room area": Leah was the "tender eyed one." Rachel signifies the comings and goings into the bedroom, or "its interiors": she was renowned for her beauty and was the beloved of Jacob.

As for Leah and Rachel, I'm suggesting beauty is an "interior quality." And with the bedroom the most interior part of a house, as privacy dictates, it corresponds most to Rachel. While it could be said Leah had "bedroom eyes": as she represents "the draw" the woman has on the man, as she leads him into the bedroom—"where Rachel resides" (i.e., Rachel was the interior of Leah).

100

Leah is also the "realization of Penelope," who signifies implicit consent. Leah becomes the full realization of this, as well as a state of its exploration: and is synonymous with "assured faith." It's similarly what transpires in chapter "13" of the book of Revelation: involving the beast out of the sea and the false prophet, who perform a thorough examination—and try the New Church—as to its tenets of faith and doctrine, otherwise known as "persecution."

101

The number which exemplifies Leah best is "55": it reflects the full realization of the husband (5), in conjunction with his wife Penelope (11), and is the multiplication of "5 x 11." It's further illustrated when multiplying 5 by itself (5 x 5). What you come up with is "25," Penelope's number which, when multiplied by 5 again (5 x 5 x 5), becomes "125," Leah's number: thus showing Penelope "fully realized"—and—the woman manifest in the man.

"Milk the Goats"

14. Rachel

102

Rachel was the younger sister of Leah, the two wives of Jacob and daughters of Laban. As we know, Rachel was the beloved of Jacob (Genesis 29:15-28), and they were to marry after Jacob worked for Laban for seven years. Afterwards, Jacob was presented with Leah instead of Rachel on his wedding night. This was accomplished through Laban's deceit, which Jacob didn't find out until the next morning. As Laban put it, it was improper to give the younger before the firstborn in his country and, that Jacob would need to fulfill "a week" with Leah first, before he would give him Rachel to wife; while he would have to serve an additional "seven years" to account for Leah. Needless to say Jacob served Laban for fourteen years altogether—but, mostly for Rachel's sake, for she was who he "truly loved."

103

Hence the number 14 corresponds to Rachel. It's also a number that joins the man's intellect (1) to the woman's will (4): the two strengths of the couple that become united in true love—as Rachel signifies. The number "56" is also Rachel's number and suggests something similar: the joining of the bridegroom (5), with the bride (6), "in marriage" (7)—as the number "567" depicts (Karen's number). Who then go on to the "honeymoon" (8), as the number "5678" depicts (or "78").

104

While the numbers "15 and 46" also correspond, and signify the man in conjunction with "his father" (15), and the woman in conjunction with "her mother" (46)—which, when reduced, portray the man's father (1) and the woman's mother (4), i.e., the numbers "1 and 4," which combine and form Rachel (14). The same could be said of the numbers "51 and 64," the reciprocals of 15 and 46, which when reduced become "9 and 8" and when combined they form "98," which is also Rachel's number.

105

As I said in Leah, Rachel is the man manifest in the woman, as corresponds to the woman herself in celestial marriage. Hence as Leah signifies the "interior of the house," central to the living room area and leading into the bedroom, Rachel signifies the bedroom itself (its interiors), as it extends into all parts of the house. Rachel is therefore set in charge of what is conjugal in the relationship. Which seems appropriate for the man should work in concert with the woman's consent (or will), and await the times when she's "most in heat" (estrus), and willing to receive him. (Here, love corresponds to heat, as light corresponds to truth.) And as the woman has to bear the children, it seems fitting that they be conceived in a state conducive of her "inmost affection." (The children would then be wanted.) One thing that brings this into focus, is the Virgin Mary was 14 years old when she conceived Jesus! (as corresponds to Rachel).

"Let the Horses in"