The Cosmic Diagram of the Land of Mu Part 1

Recently, I was asked in an email to provide further information about the “Cosmic/Cosmogonic Diagram.” I subsequently offered the individual the opportunity to place their research into the subject on the My-Mu.com Guest blog and this was followed up with a post to the My-Mu.com Guest blog entitled, “Ancient Pictograph Cypher.”

This post (and those following on the same subject) is a follow-up to examine the “Cosmogonic/Cosmic” Diagrams that James Churchward wrote about and some of their possible origins.

In the 1926 Lost Continent of Mu Motherland of Men the figure below was captioned:

"The First Book Ever Written
The Cosmic Diagram of the Land of Mu. Over 35,000 years old"

The text describes the Cosmic diagram as follows (text in red are differences between the 1926 and 1931 versions):

THE Cosmic Diagram of the land of Mu was the first book ever written by man. I have traced this diagram back to more than 35,000 years ago. Just how long it had been in use before that, no one can say or even estimate.

All of the ancient nations copied the Motherland’s diagram-the Mayas of Yucatan, the Naga-Mayas of India, the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Egyptians and the Pueblo Indians of southwestern North America.

Only one retained its simple character with its original meanings: the Yucatan Mayas. The rest, except the Pueblos, added figures and introduced dogmas. They gave some of the original figures different meanings, so that the simple and beautiful symbol of the Motherland became sadly distorted. This was brought about by the unscrupulous Egyptian priesthood. They first invented the devil, then they had to find an abode for him, so they invented hell. Five thousand years ago the devil and hell were unknown. The priesthood of India, seeing the effects on the people of these inventions, were quick to follow Set with Siva.

In Mu the novice was taught to learn this book thoroughly and to repeat it as his belief in God and the hereafter. Just as children are taught their Bibles today, so was the child of this lost continent instructed in this book in ancient times. In Mu the novice was taught to learn this book thoroughly and to repeat it as his belief in God and the hereafter, just as children are taught their Bibles today.

In deciphering this cosmic diagram it will be seen that there is a central circle enclosed within two interlaced equilateral triangles. They form one single figure, having but one meaning. These two triangles are enclosed within an outer circle, which leaves twelve divisions between the two circles. Again, this outer circle is enclosed within twelve scallops. Falling from the main figure and downward is a ribbon that has eight divisions.

The central circle is a picture of the sun, Ra, who is the collective symbol of the Deity, and as the Deity is in Heaven, the Deity and Heaven are symbolized by this circle.The central circle is a picture of the sun, Ra, who is the collective symbol of the Deity, and as the Deity is in Heaven, the Deity and Heaven being symbolized by this circle.

The twelve divisions formed by the two interlaced triangles, between the two circles, symbolize the twelve gates to Heaven. Each gate symbolizes a virtue, so that the soul must possess the twelve virtues in order to enter the gates of Heaven.

The outer circle symbolizes the intermediate world, the world beyond, the Amenti of the Egyptians. The twelve scallops surrounding the intermediate world symbolize twelve temptations. The soul must prove that it has overcome the twelve earthly temptations before it can enter the twelve gates of the world beyond.

The ribbon falling downward symbolizes that the soul must ascend in order to reach Heaven. The ancient meaning of the word “ascend” as used here did not signify rising to an altitude. It meant to rise to a higher level towards perfection. The ribbon has eight divisions. These signify the eight roads that man must traverse before his soul may enter the world beyond.

I have given a description of what the eight roads to Heaven are in the previous chapter.

What the twelve temptations and the twelve virtues were I was never able to discover collectively.

This ancient religious belief of the people of Mu, freely given in modern language, would read:
“I believe there are eight roads which I must travel in order to reach Heaven. After having traveled the eight roads (mentioning them), I arrive at the twelve gates leading to the world beyond. Here I must prove that I have overcome the twelve earthly temptations (mentioning them). I shall then pass through into the world beyond and reach the gates of Heaven. There I must show that I learned and practised the twelve virtues on earth (mentioning them). Then I am taken through the gates of Heaven to the throne of glory, where sits the Heavenly King.”
Have we today among all our sects and religions any that is purer and more simple than this of the lost people of the Motherland of Man?

Lost Continent of Mu Motherland of Men pages 140-143

In the first edition of the 1931 Lost Continent of Mu, the first sentence was the same as the 1926 version, but in subsequent editions, the “Cosmic Diagram” was replaced by “Cosmogonic Diagram,” as seen in the paperback version today. Additionally, James added the following illustration immediately after the fifth paragraph.

Next, we’ll look at the 1933 Sacred Symbols of Mu, where the figure was captioned “Mu’s Cosmogonic Diagram.”
And in further posts, we’ll examine the roots of the “Cosmogonic Diagram.”