Pentecost, The Tower of Babel, and Self-Actualization

Yesterday was Pentecost — to Christians, a day to remember the descent of the holy spirit on the disciples of Jesus. The spirit appeared as tongues of flame above the heads of the disciples, and gifted them with the ability to speak in “tongues.”

Pentecost represents the reversing of the Old Testament story about the Tower of Babel. In it, mankind shared a common language and sought to build a tower to the actual heavens. God saw this, took exception to their hubris, but also the efficacy, destroyed the tower, scattered mankind, and made them speak different languages.

Language is power. Creative power. Often called the logos. Our ability to create is centered around our ability to communicate. Communication occurs bodily through our mouths and ears, but it is a spiritual act at it’s heart. It is communion with others.

At Pentecost, that ability to commune with others was returned. The gift took the form of a flaming tongue. In mythology, flames tend to represent spirit, consciousness, and awakening.

Our own ability to awake, to achieve true consciousness is dependant on our ability to communicate. To embody the logos, properly, we must become mindful of others. We must talk with them; commune with them. In doing so, our ideas are tested. Our point-of-views are brought into question. When we question ourselves, when we test our beliefs, and rid ourselves of that which holds us back, we gain the potential to transcend. To self-actualize.

From there, we have two choices — to live a fractured life, like the men in the tower of Babel story, where we imagine our actualization puts us at the center of the universe and nothing is beyond our knowledge. Or, to live a more balanced life, where spirit and flesh are married, and constantly seeking to better themselves and the world.