The strange figure, the lower
part animal; the upper part human; and the sprouting wings epitomize the
growth and development of man from the animal, or physical (carnal),
consciousness to the soul consciousness, represented by woman's head and
breast, to the supra-conscious, winged god.
No higher conception of life has ever emanated from any source, than the
concept of man developed to a state of perfection represented by wings (a
symbol of freedom). These winged humans are sometimes called angels and
sometimes gods, although the words may not be synonymous.
The point is, that no theory of life and its purposes seems more general or
more unescapable than that of man's growth from sin (limitations) to
god-hood--freedom.
Whether this consummation is brought about through an unbroken chain of
upward tendencies from the lowest forms of life to the highest; or whether
it is symbolized by the old theologic idea of man's fall from godhood to
sin, the fact remains that we know no other ideal than that represented by
perfected man; and we know no lower idea than that of man still in the
animal stage of consciousness.
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