The Myth Of The Phoenix Or The Wonderful Power Of Resilience

Carl Gustav Jung explained to us in his book “Symbols of Transformation” that the human being and the Phoenix have many similarities. This emblematic creature of fire capable of rising majestically from the ashes of its own destruction, also symbolizes the power of resilience, that unmatched ability to renew ourselves into much stronger, braver and more luminous beings.

If there is a myth that has nurtured practically all the doctrines, cultures and legendary roots of our countries, it is undoubtedly the one that refers to the Phoenix. It was said of him that his tears were  healing, that he had great physical stamina, control over fire, and infinite wisdom. It was, in essence, one of the most powerful archetypes for Jung, because his fire contained both creation and destruction, life and death …

Likewise, it is interesting to know that we find early references to their mythology both in Arabic poetry, as in Greco-Roman culture and even in much of the historical legacy of the East. In China, for example, the Phoenix or Feng Huang symbolizes not only the highest virtue, power or prosperity, but also represents  yin and yang, that duality that makes up everything in the universe.

However, and this is worth remembering, it is in Ancient Egypt where the first cultural and religious testimonies appear around this figure and where, in turn, that image that we have today about resilience is shaped. Every detail, nuance and symbol that outlines this myth undoubtedly offers us a good exercise to reflect on.

The Phoenix or the power to be reborn from our ashes

Viktor Frankl, neuropsychiatrist and founder of logotherapy, survived the torture of the concentration camps. As he himself explained in many of his books, a traumatic experience is always negative, however, what happens after it depends on each person. It is in our power to rise again, to come alive once more from our ashes in an unequaled triumph or, on the contrary, to limit ourselves to vegetate, to collapse …

This admirable ability to renew ourselves, to regain our breath, desire and strength from our miseries and broken glass first goes through a really dark phase that many will have undoubtedly experienced in their own skin: we speak of “death”. When we go through a traumatic moment, we all “die a little”, we all let go of a part of ourselves that will never come back, that will never be the same.

Thus, and among all the myths around this figure, it is the Egyptian that offers us, as we said, those key points where we must stop them to better understand the relationship of the Phoenix with resilience. Let’s see them below.

The Phoenix in Egypt

Ovid explained in his texts that in Egypt, the Phoenix died and was reborn once every 500 years. For the Egyptians, this majestic heron was Bennu, a bird associated with the rising of the Nile, the Sun and death, and which, as they explained, had been born under the tree of Good and Evil. This fantastic creature understood that it was necessary to renew itself every so often time to acquire greater wisdom and for this, he followed a very meticulous process.

It flew all over Egypt to build a nest with the most beautiful elements: cinnamon sticks, oak branches, tuberose and myrrh. Then, settled in his nest, he sang one of the most beautiful melodies that the Egyptians had ever heard and then let the flames consume him completely. Three days later, the Phoenix was reborn full of strength and power. Next, it would take its nest and leave it in Heliopolis, in the temple of the Sun, to start a new cycle with which to offer inspiration to the people of Egypt.

Resilience and our “nest” of transformation

As we can see, the Egyptian myth of the Phoenix is ​​a beautiful story. However, let us now analyze some of its details. Let’s stop for example on how the Phoenix builds its nest. He looks for the richest materials in his land, those that combine delicacy and strength at the same time, and that will help him in his transformation, in his ascension.

If we think about it, this process is very similar to the one that makes up the psychological dimension of resilience. Because we also look for those magical elements with which to build a very resistant nest where we can combine strengths.

All these components will help you on your ascent but not without first being aware of one aspect: that there will be an end, that a part of ourselves will also go away, it will become ashes, the remains of a past that will never return.

However, these ashes will not be blown away by the wind, on the contrary. They will be part of ourselves to shape a being that is reborn from the fire much stronger, bigger, wiser … Someone who may serve as an inspiration to others but who, above all, will allow us to carry on with our faces held high and wings wide open.

Elena Dudina images