The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors

The Isis Papers
Symbolism of Boxing
Key to this discussion is the general rule that disqualification may be
made by the referee during a fight for fouls - such as hitting below the
"belt," an imaginary line drawn across the body from the top of the hip
bone. There are other rules for disqualification, but the above usually is
recognized as the most crucial rule. Also significant for this discussion
is the central aspect of technique that dictates the gloved hands must be
held up in front of the body: the left hand shoulder high and extended
about 12 inches. The left hand is slightly higher than the right, with the
left forearm held across the chest, right fist almost touching it, and both
elbows bent and resting lightly against the ribs. The right fist is held close
to the chin for protection and tucked into the chest, and the shoulders are
hunched. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Edition).
Whereas the above sets forth the specifics of the formal boxing match,
it is the specific symbolism and the symbolic elements in the behavior of
boxing that are the major concern. Awareness at the level of the symbol
and the symbolic enables us to comprehend a more significant meaning
of the dynamics of the world around us.
Essentially, to the extent that the surrounding reality is not understood
at the deeper levels- at the level of the symbolic- the individual and the
collective remain relatively powerless. Symbols and symbolic activity
impact at subconscious and unconscious levels of the brain-computer,
escaping conscious level screening and control over the behavioral outflow
that has been stimulated by the symbol and the symbolic. With
in-depth understanding, the symbol and the symbolic can be decoded and
made available for conscious use and disposal. increasing the individual's
power over the self and the surrounding environment. (See Diagram I.)
Brain-Computer Level
Conscious
Subconscious
Unconscious
Brain-Computer Input and Output
Overt-Surface
Symbolic-Symbolic
Symbolic-Symbolic
Diagram I
Brain-Computer Level of Functioning
and Level of Input and Output
of Environmental Data
Decoding the symbols and the symbolic behaviors in boxing requires
returning in time to ancient Africa, the birth place of human beings, and
more specifically to the African country called Egypt - in the period
antedating the invasions by the white tribes of Europe. The most important
Egyptian god was Osiris, referred to as "Lord of the Perfect Black,"
which I interpret as a reference to his skin color. The symbol by which
Osiris was known was the black bull called Apis. J .E. Cirlot' sDictionary
of ~ymbols refers to the bull as the historic symbol of white superiority
over black. However, this seems to be a conscious or unconscious attempt
by Cirlot to reverse the meaning of the bull symbol since the black bull
was the symbol of Osiris, a Black god. Thus, in actuality, the bull must
represent the opposite: black superiority over white in the psyche of the
white collective.
Moving forward in time, the sport of bullfighting became prominent
on the continent of Europe, in Spain, shortly after the Moors (Black
'* Africans) who had conquered Spain for seven hundred years, were finally
. •. beaten and chased back into Africa. Of course, by that time, the skin color
.. and hair of the peoples in Spain and in southern Europe had darkened
· .because of the dominant black genetic material which the Africans
h .. nnnht with them. However, the Spaniard response to being conquered
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