Symbol Dictionary J
Jaguar: See Animals.
Jambu Island: See Paradise.
Jesus: See Gods/Savior Gods.
Jewel in the Lotus: This translation of the Tantric Holy Phrase, Om mani padme hum, refers to sexual intercourse literally, but symbolically has a variety of meanings. Barbara Walker, in her book, The Woman’s Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets (1983), breaks the sexual symbol down as this: “the fructifying male principle enclosed within the sustaining, birth-giving, enveloping female principle.” It also refers to creation or the spark of life; as well as “the dead body enclosed in the womb of Mother Earth”; the cosmic dance of Shiva (the lotus) and Kali (the jewel); or “the sleeping god, between reincarnations, cradled in the Lotus of his Mother” (Walker, 1983). See UMS Mantras course.
Journey: Man, Myth And Magic: The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Mythology, Religion And The Unknown (1995), edited by Richard Cavendish, states “symbol of man’s attempt to gain salvation, spiritual perfection, paradise; examples include the Christian’s journey in Pilgrim’s Progress, and the quest of the Grail: a method of attaining holiness or wisdom is often called a path, road or way.”
Jupiter: See Planets.
Justice: The popular symbol of Justice as a blind-folded woman holding a scale in each hand comes from the Libra sign of the Zodiac. However the notion that justice is feminine is not specific to astrology. Pagans and Romans both attributed justice as a feminine characteristic. Pythagoreans said, “iusticia and aequitas (justice and equity) are ‘innate attributes of the feminine nature principle’” (as quoted in Walker, 1983) See UMS Astrology course.