STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN: A ROCK SONG AS A MEDITATIVE ALLEGORY

“Stairway to Heaven” is one of Led Zeppelin’s most iconic songs and is often cited as the most played classic rock song in radio history. More than just a rock anthem, it endures because it operates on another level entirely—symbolic, reflective, and inward-looking. Its power comes not from spectacle, but from allegory.

Read allegorically, the entire song functions as a quiet call to meditation. The “stairway” is not a physical ascent and heaven is not a destination after death. Heaven, in this reading, is a state of mind that can be entered while alive—through awareness, stillness, and inner attention. The song repeatedly contrasts outward seeking with inward listening, warning that buying, chasing, or believing your way forward leads nowhere.

The lyrics gently dismantle external authority and certainty. Signs can be wrong. Words can mislead. What matters is learning to listen—to the quiet voice within rather than the noise of the world. This is the essence of meditation: withdrawing attention from distraction and resting it in awareness itself.

The song resolves with the line “to be a rock and not to roll,” a perfect piece of Frost-like allegory. A rock is still. It does not roll with impulse, fear, or momentum. Not rolling is non-reactivity. Being a rock is meditation. The instruction is never stated directly, but the image makes it unmistakable.

In this light, “Stairway to Heaven” is not mystical fantasy but practical wisdom. The stairway is meditation itself, and heaven is clarity, peace, and presence—available now, not later. The song doesn’t tell you what to believe. It invites you to stop, become still, and discover it for yourself.

TO BE A ROCK AND NOT TO ROLL: FROST-STYLE ALLEGORY AS A CALL TO MEDITATE

“To be a rock and not to roll” is classic allegorical poetry, and it lands in the same tradition as Robert Frost: simple words, physical images, and a hidden inner instruction.

A rock doesn’t chase. It doesn’t react. It doesn’t follow the current. It rests. Not tense—just grounded. “Not to roll” is the refusal to be dragged by momentum: the restless mind rolling from thought to thought, craving to craving, worry to worry. “To be a rock” is the choice to become still.

Frost did the same thing with ordinary symbols. When he wrote, “I have miles to go before I sleep,” it wasn’t really about distance or fatigue. It was an image for the inner road—the unfinished work, the long attention, the responsibility of staying awake before surrender. He let the image carry the meaning, without preaching. The reader feels the truth first, and understands it later.

That’s why the line “to be a rock and not to roll” hits like a quiet command. It doesn’t explain itself. It shows you what to do. Stop rolling. Sit down. Breathe. Let thoughts move while you don’t. If “heaven” is read as a state of clarity and peace, then the path isn’t motion—it’s stillness.

The stairway, in this reading, isn’t climbed by effort. It’s entered by presence. Be a rock. Not to roll. And meditate.

What/Who is God?

 1 John 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Jesus represents the true son of god, the Sun.

 Here are several KJV Bible verses that can be read allegorically to support the idea that the Son of God is like the Sun of God, symbolizing divine light, life, and spiritual illumination: Jesus represents the true son of god, the Sun.

1. Psalm 84:11 (KJV)

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Interpretation: God is directly described as a sun, symbolizing light, warmth, guidance, and life — all qualities traditionally attributed to Christ as the Son of God.

2. John 8:12 (KJV)

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Interpretation: Jesus refers to himself as light — a quality directly associated with the sun. This connects the Son with the Sun allegorically as the spiritual force that banishes darkness and gives life.

3. 2 Samuel 23:4 (KJV)

“And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.”

Interpretation: A righteous ruler — often understood as a Messianic foreshadowing — is compared to the rising sun. This verse emphasizes renewal, clarity, and growth, all qualities of both the literal sun and the divine Son.

4. Revelation 1:16 (KJV)

*“…and his countenance was as the *sun shineth in his strength.”

Interpretation: In John’s vision of Christ in glory, his face shines like the sun — reinforcing the symbolic union between the Son of God and the Sun’s overwhelming brilliance and power.

5. Matthew 17:2 (KJV) (The Transfiguration)

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”

Interpretation: This vivid image of Jesus as the sun during supports the allegory that the truth is that God is Light and in him no darkness at all!

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Forty Days Until The Spring Equinox

The number 40 appears multiple times throughout the Bible, often symbolizing periods of testing, trial, or preparation. The number 40 signifies the amount of time in meditation that one needs to endure before receiving the word of God. You will be tempted to quit during this time and it takes great will power to endure. The spring equinox, the sunrise, is the promised land.

Here are some notable passages from the King James Version (KJV) where the number 40 is mentioned:

Old Testament:

1. Genesis 7:4 – God informs Noah of the impending flood:

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights…”

2. Exodus 24:18 – Moses on Mount Sinai:

“And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”

3. Numbers 13:25 – Spies return from Canaan:

“And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.”

4. Numbers 14:33-34 – Israel’s wilderness wandering:

“And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years…”

5. 1 Samuel 17:16 – Goliath’s challenge:

“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.”

6. 1 Kings 19:8 – Elijah’s journey to Horeb:

“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

7. Jonah 3:4 – Jonah’s proclamation to Nineveh:

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”

New Testament:

1. Matthew 4:2 – Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness:

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

2. Acts 1:3 – Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances:

“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days…”

These passages illustrate the recurring significance of the number 40 in biblical narratives, often associated with periods of trial, testing, and transformation.

The number 40 appears multiple times throughout the Bible, often symbolizing periods of testing, trial, or preparation. Here are some notable passages from the King James Version (KJV) where the number 40 is mentioned:

Old Testament:

1. Genesis 7:4 – God informs Noah of the impending flood:

“For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights…”

2. Exodus 24:18 – Moses on Mount Sinai:

“And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.”

3. Numbers 13:25 – Spies return from Canaan:

“And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.”

4. Numbers 14:33-34 – Israel’s wilderness wandering:

“And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years…”

5. 1 Samuel 17:16 – Goliath’s challenge:

“And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.”

6. 1 Kings 19:8 – Elijah’s journey to Horeb:

“And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.”

7. Jonah 3:4 – Jonah’s proclamation to Nineveh:

“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.”

New Testament:

1. Matthew 4:2 – Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness:

“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

2. Acts 1:3 – Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances:

“To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days…”

These passages illustrate the recurring significance of the number 40 in biblical narratives, often associated with periods of trial, testing, and transformation.

The Son of God is the SUN

 The Bible is filled with poetic allegory, symbolism, and deep metaphorical meanings. One of the most intriguing interpretations of scripture is the parallel between Jesus and the sun. This perspective suggests that biblical stories, particularly in the New Testament, use the movements of the sun to illustrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

The Baptism of Jesus and the Rising Sun

In Matthew 3:16-17, Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. The scripture states that as Jesus emerged from the water, the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descended like a dove. A voice from heaven then proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

This imagery can be understood allegorically. The sun, like Jesus, rises each morning on the eastern horizon, emerging from the sea (or appearing to rise from the ocean in many locations). The act of baptism—going under and then emerging from water—mirrors the cycle of the sun as it sets and rises again. When Jesus “went up straightway out of the water,” it can be seen as a symbolic representation of sunrise. The Spirit of God descending like a dove can also be interpreted as the sun’s radiant beams spreading light across the sky. The dove, traditionally associated with peace and purity, represents the soft, warm light of dawn, signifying a new beginning.

Dove and Raven: The Cycle of the Sun

The connection between the dove and the sun continues with Noah’s story in Genesis. After 40 days and nights of rain, Noah released two birds—a raven and a dove. These two birds can symbolize the perpetual cycle of night and day, sunset and sunrise. The raven, dark and ominous, represents the setting sun, leading to darkness, while the dove, bright and gentle, represents the rising sun, bringing light to the world.

This duality echoes the daily pattern of the sun’s journey. At dusk, the world is plunged into darkness (the raven, the absence of light). At dawn, light returns (the dove, the presence of light). In the same way, Jesus’ resurrection after three days in the tomb symbolizes the return of the sun after a long night.

Matthew 17 and the Revelation of the Sun/Son

In Matthew 17, the Transfiguration of Jesus takes place. Jesus ascends a high mountain with Peter, James, and John. There, his appearance is transformed: “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2).

This moment serves as a clear revelation of Jesus’ divine nature, but it also reinforces the connection between the Son of God and the sun in the sky. The description of Jesus shining like the sun directly associates him with celestial light, which sustains life and brings warmth and guidance. The voice from heaven, once again declaring Jesus as God’s beloved Son, can be seen as an affirmation that the Son (Jesus) and the Sun (the celestial body) share symbolic significance.

The Sun as the Eternal Risen Son

Throughout history, many cultures have worshipped the sun as a life-giving force. In Christianity, Jesus is described as the “Light of the World” (John 8:12), a title that further solidifies this connection. The sun rises each day, bringing light to the world, just as Jesus’ teachings bring spiritual enlightenment. The resurrection of Jesus on the third day mirrors the sun’s daily rebirth at dawn after the darkness of night.

The Bible’s poetic language allows for multiple layers of interpretation, and the allegory of the sun and Son is one of its most profound. The beautiful symmetry between celestial movements and biblical narratives suggests that the story of Jesus is not only a historical or theological account but also a cosmic metaphor reflecting the rhythms of the natural world.

In Matthew 17, God reveals His Son is the Sun—both the literal light of the sky and the spiritual light of the world.

Judgement

Judgment

The sun, in its unwavering path across the sky, shines upon all of us equally—without prejudice, without distinction. It does not discriminate between the righteous and the sinner, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. In this way, it serves as a symbol of divine fairness, an ever-present reminder that we all stand beneath the same light, bound by the same universal forces.

In the grand design of existence, judgment is represented by Libra, the scales of justice. Libra, often associated with balance, fairness, and accountability, reminds us that all actions have consequences. Yet, justice in the divine sense is not merely about punishment or reward—it is also about forgiveness and redemption.

Every evening, as the sun descends beyond the horizon, it appears to die, plunging the world into darkness. This daily event can be seen as a metaphor for judgment, as the sun, symbolic of life and truth, disappears from sight. In this moment of transition, we are reminded that all things must come to an end, and that each day we are given the opportunity to reflect upon our deeds. However, just as the sun sets, so too does it rise again, signaling renewal, rebirth, and the promise of another chance. Judgment, therefore, is not the end, but a process through which we are transformed, forgiven, and granted the opportunity to begin anew.

Forgiveness is a central tenet of divine justice. In Luke 11:4 (KJV), the words of Christ teach us:

“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”

These words emphasize the interconnected nature of judgment and mercy. True justice does not exist in isolation from compassion. Just as we seek forgiveness from God, we must also extend that same grace to others. To judge without mercy is to ignore the very essence of divine justice, which calls for both accountability and redemption.

We are all equal beneath the sun. Though our paths may differ, though our choices may lead us to light or shadow, we are bound by a common humanity. No one is beyond redemption, for the sun does not refuse to rise for the sinner, nor does it shine only upon the righteous. Judgment is not a final condemnation but an opportunity for growth, a recognition of our flaws with the promise of transformation.

The cycle of the sun reflects the eternal rhythm of existence—birth, death, and rebirth. It reminds us that each day we are judged, yet each day we are also forgiven. The scales of Libra remain balanced not by punishment alone, but by grace. When we forgive others, we honor this divine order, and in doing so, we ourselves are forgiven.

Thus, let us stand in the light, embracing both justice and mercy. Let us seek righteousness not in self-righteous condemnation, but in love, understanding, and the willingness to extend the same forgiveness that we ourselves hope to receive.

God is the Sun

 1 John 1 … God is light

1 John 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.