Anubus, Egyptian Dog God of UnderworldEver heard of dog heaven? Well, believe it or not, dog hell, while lesser known for obvious reasons, indeed does exist! Dogs have played numerous roles throughout human history, yet, while I assume 'dog heaven' to be a place where things are oky-doky enough, what goes on down under in a dogs life? Actually, dogs have made a very good name for themselves as protectors of the underworld. From Cerberes, the two headed dog who guards the entry to Hades realm--to the dog whom accompanied Yudhishthira on his last journey before facing his maker, Dharma in the Indian Classic epic, "The Mahabharata"; dogs just seem to know the deeper side and in-paths, like nobodies bizness.
Hey, when it's my time, It would be super to be guided through the journey, dog by my side. Sweet! They can see beyond the beyond. They know the ins and outs of the afterlife, and you can bet your sweet life they will stick by you through thick and thin: Loyalty is a given. In mythology, the dog represents Earth, Water and Moon, as much in terms of the unconscious or subconscious--the hidden aspects are their forte.
Every culture has a dog story, most are very old and connect to rites of passage. Dogs hold the realms of the unknown right between their teeth; As psychopomps, they appear to save the day in many a myth. As Anubus, Thoth, Hecate or Hermes-- dogs act as intermediaries between the two worlds, and as spokesmen for the living to question the dead and the underworld deities. They were often buried as a sacrifice with the Master to help him to cross into the "eternal house of the dead".
Being 'thrown to the dogs', was a real practice in Persia and Bactria; the sick, dying and old were thought to benefit spiritually by doing so! Whoa...that's a bit heavy. On a lighter note, dogs guard the holy gates in Egyptian art, and had the duty of 'imprisoning and destroying the enemies of light'. This brings to mind the Foo-Dogs of Ancient China, of which I have a pair sitting at my front door. They have been with me through the various houses I have lived in on Maui--and do a very good job of keeping the RIF-RAF out!
Dogs are also mythically associated with creation stories, fire was first sparked by the dog hero--as was human life! This may explain how the phrase, 'It's all gone to the dogs' came from; down to the base, the ground zero of existence, down to nothing. The beginning and end of all things. The start of the agrarian cycle was linked with the dog culture as well. In Japan, dog figures protect children and assist women in childbirth. If only I had known this sooner.....
I could go on, the research on dog symbols, deities and the engagement with human and spiritual life and after-life is exhausting. I'm just dog tired! While the poles of thought that surround dogs is extreme (in some cultures dogs are seen as dirty scoundrels!), the role that they have played, covering all spectrum's of human evolution is huge. The most telling I think, is the analogy the early alchemists and 'philosophers' used to symbolize the purification of gold by antimony: The dog devoured by the wolf. Both aspects, dog-wolf portray the sage-saint, who in self- sacrifice (eats the ego) and finally reaches spiritual self-mastery. Doggone! That's pretty cool.
Of course, dogs are handy companions nowadays, defenders of the home and hearth- they get us up off the couch and into the world of parks and beaches, where we find joy in exercising 'them'. But who would ever think that they too have other dimensional relationships and purpose, beyond laying on the front porch in the sun? Looking into my Ginger's eyes, I know for sure--her and Roxy and Mattie are much more than mere dogs; they are all carrying on a tradition that out lives many other traditions in human culture, that of caring and sacrifice for the benefit of us, our species. Thanks girls! Canines rock.
Yes, I know, Dog spelled backwards is God.
As Always, in dog we trust,
Jane
