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Feathers falling from the sky are a type of divine message. In the tapestry of ancient cultures, Chinese and Jewish traditions, among others, offer profound insights into the celestial realm and its connection to humanity. From the Chinese Daoist philosophy to the Jewish belief in divine signs, these rich heritages reveal a shared reverence for interpreting natural phenomena and celestial bodies as messages from the heavens.
While exploring the Dao’s Five Elements theory and the Torah’s teachings, we find a common thread: the heavens provide signs and guidance to humanity. Remarkably, even in modern times, these cultural beliefs endure.
On December 26, 2022, a strange thing suddenly happened in Wuhan, Hubei Province: many feathers fell from the sky. Many people exclaimed about this rare sight. Rain, hail, snow, and even meteorites fall from the sky, but people have never heard of feathers. Only recently, on an evening on December 20, 2022, “feather snow” fell over Taizhou, Zhejiang Province. According to the video taken by netizens at close range, it was feathers that fell on the ground.
The unprecedented meteorite
This scene is another strange event after a meteorite fell from the sky. On the evening of December 15, 2022, netizens in many places in Zhejiang witnessed the fall of the fire meteor. It was an unprecedented event that left many people wondering what it could mean.
However, Chinese traditional culture is not alone in its divination of the natural and celestial phenomena.
Symbolic meaning and representation of meteorites in Judaic mysticism
In Jewish mysticism, particularly in the Kabbalah, meteorites can hold symbolic meaning concerning rulers or leaders. According to Kabbalistic teachings, celestial events, including the falling of meteorites, can be interpreted as divine messages or signs from the heavens.
In the context of rulership, the appearance of a meteorite may signify a significant event or change in leadership. It can be seen as a celestial indication of the rise or fall of a particular ruler or the end of a dynasty. This interpretation is based on the belief that celestial phenomena reflect the spiritual dynamics and influences that govern the earthly realm.
The Chinese theory of the Five Elements or Wuxing
Was the appearance of these two incidents accidental? On December 7, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) suddenly relaxed its control of the COVID pandemic. The Zero COVID policy was rescinded, which led to widespread infections across the country, and the death rate of severe cases exceeded what people imagined. Pharmacies sold out of fever and cough relievers. Medical resources were all exhausted. Funeral homes had long lines. Even the cemeteries ran out of space in Beijing.
The Chinese ancients believed that the world comprises substances with five characteristics — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — and called them the Five Elements or Wuxing. The mutual generation and mutual restraint among the five elements are considered the world’s fundamental law.
The ancients believed that based on the Five Elements theory, one could gain insight into all phenomena in the world. This included things like the operations and workings of the heavens, the changes in the world, and when dynasties would end and be replaced.
The theory of the interaction between Heaven and man
In line with the theory of the interaction between Heaven and man, the ancients believed that “the sky can show signs signaling good or bad luck,” and there must be a causal reason behind nature. Dong Zhongshu (179-104 B.C.) of the Western Han Dynasty put forward the theory of “interaction between Heaven and man” based on the theory of yin and yang and the five elements.
According to this, Heaven’s rewards and punishments are based on human beings’ good or bad deeds. God uses good fortune and disasters to laud or condemn rulers who guide human activities and are responsible for the destiny of numerous souls. Dong also particularly emphasized the warning function of disasters and abnormalities. He believed that the mistakes of politicians and rulers caused natural disasters.
The Kabbalist theory of the makeup of reality
In the Kabbalah, a concept known as the Four Worlds describes different levels or dimensions of existence. Each world is associated with specific spiritual qualities and substances. Specifically, it is a set of esoteric teachings that explain the relationship between the unchanging, eternal God, the infinite, and the mortal, finite universe. It forms the foundation of mystical religious interpretations within Judaism.
The Four Worlds are:
- Atzilut (Emanation): Atzilut is the highest and most divine world, representing pure divine energy and unity. It is associated with the spiritual substance of “Emanation” or “Emanated Light,” which emanates directly from the divine source.
- Beriah (Creation): Beriah is the world of creation, representing the realm where spiritual forms and concepts take shape. It is associated with the spiritual substance of “Creation” or “Created Light,” which provides the structure and foundation for manifesting spiritual and physical realities.
- Yetzirah (Formation): Yetzirah is the world of formation, representing the realm where energetic forces and archetypes are shaped. It is associated with the spiritual substance of “Formation” or “Formative Light,” which gives rise to the creation’s building blocks and patterns.
- Assiyah (Action): Assiyah is the world of action, representing the physical and material realm. It is associated with the spiritual substance of “Action” or “Material Light,” which manifests as physical matter and the material aspects of existence.
Both the Kabbalistic concept of the Four Worlds and the Chinese theory of Five Elements share similarities in their understanding of the composition and interconnectedness of the world. While they have distinct frameworks and terminology, there are common themes:
- Elemental Composition: Both systems acknowledge the existence of fundamental substances or elements that make up the world. In Kabbalah, the Four Worlds are associated with different spiritual substances. At the same time, in Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) represent essential components of the natural world.
- Levels of Existence: Both systems propose hierarchical levels of existence or realms. In Kabbalah, the Four Worlds represent ascending levels of divine manifestation, while in Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements correspond to different phases or stages of transformation within the natural world.
- Symbolic Associations: Both systems assign symbolic associations to their respective elements. In Kabbalah, the spiritual substances of each world have symbolic meanings and represent various aspects of divine manifestation and creation. Similarly, in Chinese philosophy, the Five Elements are associated with specific qualities, phenomena, seasons, organs, and directions, forming a comprehensive system of symbolic correspondences.
- Interconnectedness: Both systems emphasize the interconnectedness and interplay between the elements or substances. In Kabbalah, the Four Worlds are seen as interdependent and linked in a hierarchical chain of emanation. Likewise, in the Chinese theory of Five Elements, there are creation, generation, and control cycles among the elements, reflecting their dynamic relationships and influences.
While the Kabbalah and the Chinese theory of Five Elements originate from distinct cultural and philosophical traditions, they share underlying principles in exploring the world’s fundamental building blocks and organization. These concepts provide frameworks for understanding the interrelationships between different aspects of existence, whether from a spiritual or natural perspective.
The tradition of the ancient rulers
Because of this, many historical emperors did not dare to neglect warnings from Heaven. In addition to self-examination, they also condemned themselves. This tradition lasted until the last dynasty, the Qing Dynasty (1636-1911). It also reflects the tradition of the ancient rulers who feared the way of Heaven and sought virtue for the sake of better government.
The CCP’s ignorance of warnings from Heaven
Since the CCP’s rule from 1949, the CCP’s leaders and senior officials who preached atheism have faced warnings from Heaven for more than 70 years, but it seems they neglected to heed them. Currently, the land of China is full of wailing, crying, and cursing — maybe even more than in many other countries. Due to the CCP’s low governance ability, as many critics put it, the regime’s genuine attitude toward the people is increasingly being revealed to the Chinese people.
The meaning behind the feather fall
The current Chinese leader is Xi Jinping. The word Xi means “white feather” when taken apart. Because of this connection, for many netizens, the unprecedented dropping of white feathers in Taizhou and Wuhan, and some even falling on Mao’s birthday (December 26), is believed to imply that Xi himself may fall. Will he follow Mao? Many regime critiques following the current path of events in China wonder.
Most Chinese in and outside the mainland believe that the auspicious symbol of feathers falling from the sky may be related to the many deaths caused by COVID-19.
The significance of the meteorite
Meteorites that fell in Zhejiang on December 15 were also interpreted as a sign pointing toward this. As far back as 3,000 years ago, there were records of meteors and meteorites in China. Taoists even used “night sky observation” to watch the rise and fall of the country’s fortune, foresee the monarch’s climb to power, life and death, and other major national events for the monarch.
Meteorites are usually regarded as a sign of significant events or social turmoil. It is an ominous sign believed to correspond with the end of the life of a big man.
The ominous signs of the past
A meteorite fell in Jilin City in March 1976, and Mao Zedong died a few months later. Before Deng Xiaoping died in 1997, there was also a meteorite rain in Heze, Shandong Province. Historic precedents believe meteorites and feather snow indicate the CCP may face an unprecedented bad omen.
The CCP’s ruthless rule
The CCP’s rule has continued for more than 70 years in China. According to some, the rule has been ruthless, and they have ignored many warnings from Heaven. According to many who oppose the Chinese regime’s ethical practices, the CCP’s leaders and senior officials have preached atheism and turned a deaf ear to the warnings from Heaven.
In Jewish tradition, there are references to the heavens and celestial bodies being used as signs from God. The concept of interpreting signs in nature and celestial bodies to gain insight or guidance is found in various Jewish texts, including the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and other Jewish religious literature.
One example of celestial signs mentioned in the Torah is found in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:14, it is stated: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days, and years.'”
This verse suggests that the celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Moon, and stars, serve as signs to mark sacred times, seasons, and years. While this verse primarily refers to establishing a calendar system, it implies that the celestial bodies hold significance beyond their astronomical functions.
In addition to the Torah, other Jewish texts, such as the Talmud and Midrash, also discuss interpreting signs in nature and the celestial bodies. These texts often explore the connection between celestial phenomena and human events or the ruling powers of the time. For example, the Talmudic tractate Shabbat discusses interpreting various natural phenomena as signs from God.
It’s important to note that while signs in nature and celestial bodies are acknowledged in Jewish tradition, their interpretation and significance can vary among different interpretations and schools of thought within Judaism. Understanding and applying these signs often involves a mix of religious, astrological, and mystical perspectives.
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese culture strives sincerely to live in harmony with the universe, the human body, and the transformation processes. Over thousands of years in science, very different from our deterministic approach in the Western culture, but no less scientific, they have found patterns between natural phenomena, celestial changes, and human society.
So the big question of many who still adhere to traditional Chinese culture is whether the feather fall in Taizhou and Wuhan and one falling on Mao’s birthday may imply that Xi himself may fall or that the same destiny that Mao encountered may be awaiting him and the CCP.
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