Mountain

The complex symbolism of the mountain is fundamentally based on height and center, strength, and holiness. Just as land (consciousness) rises from the sea (unconsciousness), the mountain is "ascending land" that suggests higher awareness. As a center we orient ourselves around from the ground below, the mountain, along with the aforementioned symbolism, is sometimes an expression of the Self.

Spirituality  

On the mountain, one comes closer to the sky, representing spirituality, proximity to the gods, and communication with the divine. Sacred mountains with deities are found all over the world. The mountain as the center of the world, around which the cosmos revolves, serves as an image of the world axis. Eagles that inhabit and soar around mountains reinforce this association. If one dreams of being on a mountain, the content is likely to carry a spiritual connotation, and sometimes the mountain is an expression of the Self in dreams and visions.

Overview

Going up on the mountain broadens the horizon - you can see far and gain an overview. Instead of being part of the chaos below, one can observe it soberly and from a distance. The ability to distance oneself from one’s complexes and view them objectively is a basic prerequisite for becoming conscious of them.

Going up the mountain is a common Daoist image, because they believed that the one who observes from a distance sees clearly.

The negative side of this view is the risk of inflation; one obtains an overview but might also develop a sense of superiority, not mingling with “ordinary people” but perhaps looking down on them.

The Collective Unconscious

Especially during Christianity, various monsters were thought to reside in the mountains: witches, giants, trolls, and fantastical beasts. Thus, mountains, along with their ancientness, still represent the collective unconscious.

The interior of the mountain

It is a common belief that the mountain contains a chamber within it, hiding something in line with what has been mentioned above. The alchemists spoke of the hollow mountain as “the furnace of the philosopher.” In some traditions, its interior is the land of the dead; according to legends, the hero rests within the mountain, waiting to one day reappear; in Northern European beliefs, supernatural beings resided inside; the dragon dwells within its cave systems, and so forth.

Resting Rock  

Symbolically, the mountain shares content with the rock (see Stone); resting, unyielding, ancient; it can represent stability, wisdom, and that which simply is within us and has always been there.

Aspiration for Higher Goals

Climbing a mountain symbolizes spiritual striving and ambition (compare with Ladder). It stands for "the goal of the pilgrimage and ascension," and is thus associated with the Self. In I Ching, the goal is described as follows: "The king introduces him to the Western Mountain." Richard of St. Victor says: "Do you wish to meet the transformed Christ? Ascend the mountain and know yourself." (Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, par. 403, footnote.)

The desirable flower—possibly an expression of enlightenment or the Self—growing at the peak of the mountain recurs in both Eastern and Western traditions. In alchemy, it was sometimes called Lunatica; characteristic of this mysticism, one could go mad or be healed by it. The flower at the mountain's summit could be, or be described, as "the philosopher's stone"; further versions speak of "the man on the silver mountain" from which golden rivers flow (again, just like in Eastern imagery) as well as the vulture with the four colors. (Psychology of Yoga and Meditation, pp. 160-161.)

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