The Mythology of Supernatural

by Nathan Robert Brown

  As for the Nephilim who inhabited the Earth after the fall of their angelic fathers, they quickly became a serious problem for humans. They raped, pillaged, plundered, and destroyed until humans found themselves unable to sustain their own survival. Therefore, God chose to destroy the Nephilim. There is not a full consensus among the texts that discuss the destruction of the Nephilim. Some texts claim that God sent his archangels to destroy them, while others claim that the obliteration of the Nephilim was one of the reasons for the Great Deluge that occurred in the time of Noah.

  If some of the Nephilim survived the wrath of God, however, then it would explain why (in the lore of Supernatural, at least) certain human bloodlines are suited to act as angelic vessels while others are not. Perhaps the Winchesters are descendents of the Nephilim?

  AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, SO MUST IT BE ON EARTH

  Why do you think you two are the vessels? Think about it. Michael—the big brother, loyal to an absent father. And Lucifer—the little brother, rebellious of Daddy’s plan. You were born to this, boys! It’s your destiny! It was always you! “As it is in Heaven, so must it be on Earth!”

  —GABRIEL, “CHANGING CHANNELS” (5-8)

  In the above quote, Gabriel isn’t just pulling rules out of his keister. This is nearly a direct citation from the biblical book of Matthew 6:10—“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.” This verse makes up part of what is widely known as the Lord’s Prayer and has been commonly interpreted to mean that events that transpire on Earth mirror events that occur in Heaven.

  When Moses constructed a temple for the Hebrews, he went up the mountain in order to receive revelation from God regarding how this should be done. God gave Moses very specific instructions as to the manner in which the tabernacle’s structure was to be built as well as how the contents within it were to be arranged. Later in the anonymously authored New Testament book Epistle to the Hebrews, the meaning behind the circumstances of Moses’s construction of this very same temple is addressed in a discussion of the roles of the Hebrew priests within the temple:

  They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in Heaven. This is why Moses was warned [by God] when he was about to construct the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

  —HEBREWS 8:5

  The exact nature with which the temple needed to be built, along with the above passage from Hebrews, suggests that the temple of the Hebrews was erected in a specific pattern meant to mirror that of God’s heavenly temple. While things on Earth might reflect those in Heaven, these reflections are imperfect by comparison to the perfect reality of God’s realm. For example, the sacrifices of livestock to God were but imperfect reflections of the sacrifice of the Christ. This idea is also expressed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, as follows:

  The law is only a shadow of the good things to come—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near in worship. If it could, would not the sacrifices stop? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once and for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. Those sacrifices are but yearly reminders of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls to take away sins.

  —HEBREWS 10:1–4

  The idea that the physical realm imperfectly mirrors a divine realm (Heaven) is in no way exclusive to Christianity.

  A similar Heaven-and-Earth concept exists in the Hermetic tradition of philosophy and mysticism, which worships a deity that combines attributes of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. The Hermetic philosophers believed that all planes of reality—physical, spiritual, and mental/psychological—exist on top of one another and therefore must reflect one another to an extent. This means that whatever happens on one plane of existence must simultaneously occur, in some form, on the other planes. The Hermetic tradition sees this parallelism as extending across all things. For example, the events that occur throughout the vast universe, the macrocosm, will be mimicked within the microcosm of an individual human or living organism. This Hermetic concept also exists in a number of other magical practices—“as above, so below.”

  The Greek philosopher Plato expressed a similar idea, well over three hundred years before the coming of Christ, that physical existence was but an imperfect imitation or reflection of a perfect, divine reality. This philosophical concept, commonly referred to as the theory of Forms, was explained by Plato in an excerpt from his Republic dubbed the “Allegory of the Cave.” Plato’s theory was that the truth is found in the “world of Forms,” which exists beyond the physical reality that we humans perceive with our five senses.

  In his “Allegory of the Cave,” Plato asks that we imagine a group of people who have spent their entire lives trapped within a cave, forced to face a wall upon which shadows and reflections are projected by a fire that burns behind them. This reflection is a metaphor for the visual stimuli of our physical existence, the world of Forms. These shadows are not reality, though the people within the cave believe them to be real. Plato goes on to explain that philosophers are those few souls who began their lives trapped within the cave like everyone else. However, the philosopher comes to realize that he is, in fact, in a cave and is therefore able to find freedom from it. The philosopher then leaves the cave and comes to understand the truth of the world of Forms. From here, it is the philosopher’s existential duty to return to the cave and help others liberate themselves from it. Of course, there will be some who do not wish to be freed. There are some people, in fact, who are so afraid of leaving the cave that they will kill the philosophers who try to shatter its illusions.

  Just as the relationship between Sam and Dean existed as the worldly reflection of the conflict between Michael and Lucifer, there is yet another element where this “as it is in Heaven, so must it be on Earth” idea also applies—the archetypal relationships between fathers and sons, in reality as well as in mythology.

  FATHERS, GODS, AND OTHER DADDY ISSUES

  Look at you! Boo-hoo! Daddy was mean to me, so I’m gonna smash up all his toys . . . Play the victim all you want. But you and me? We know the truth. Dad loved you best; more than Michael, more than me. Then he brought home the new baby and you couldn’t handle it. So all of this is just a great big temper tantrum. Time to grow up.

  —GABRIEL, “HAMMER OF THE GODS” (5-19)

  When it comes to the relationship between humans and God across many religious traditions, perhaps no other worldly relationship is used in comparison more than that of father–son/child. Many of the same feelings and difficulties exist between children and fathers as exist between humans and God.

  The relationship between John Winchester and his sons, Sam and Dean, bears a number of similarities to the relationship between God and his angelic sons, Lucifer and Michael. In fact, even biblical lore uses a story about a father-son relationship as a metaphor for how humans are perceived by God. This biblical story is often referred to as the tale of the prodigal son and can be found in the Gospel according to Luke 15:11–32.

  Basically, the story tells of a man who has two sons. The younger son (one might call him the Sam of the story) asked for his half of his inheritance, and so the father divided up the inheritance equally between his two sons. The older son used the money wisely and prospered. The younger brother, however, gathered up his inheritance and his belongings and journeyed to the city. There, he spent his money frivolously and hosted parties day and night. Needless to say, the younger son soon found himself penniless and friendless. He had no choice but to hire himself out as a pig handler, which in the Jewish world was the most loathsome profession one could have. All the son was allowed to eat was the same scraps that the pigs ate.

  After a while, the son realized that even his father’s servants were treated better than he was. He decided to return to his father and beg to be allowed to work as a servant in his home.
The son even prepared a speech, planning to fall to his knees and humbly proclaim, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven before you! I am no longer worthy to be called your son! Please treat me as one of your hired servants.” When the son was still a long ways off from his destination, however, his father saw him and came running to his long lost son. The son made his speech with sincerity, and his father’s reaction was as follows:

  But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us feast and celebrate! For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and now is found.” And there was a great celebration in the home.

  —LUKE 15:22–24

  The older brother (the Dean of this story) was out in the fields working when all this happened. As he got close to home that evening, he heard music and celebrating. Wondering what had happened, he asked one of the servants what was going on. When he learned that his good-for-nothing, irresponsible little brother had returned home in rags, the older brother fumed with anger. He was so mad, in fact, that he wouldn’t even go inside the house. The father, hearing of this, went outside to see his older son. Their conversation went like this:

  He answered his father, “Look! All these many years I have served you, and never once have I disobeyed your orders [Sounds a lot like Dean, doesn’t it?]. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes returns home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” “My son,” the father replied, “you have always been with me, and all that I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

  —LUKE 15:29–32

  Mythology is full of similar stories, in which a father must negotiate handling two very different sons. More often than not, the seemingly less deserving son receives the most attention. However, this is often because this son needs the most looking after (“Look after Sammy,” said John Winchester to his older son). The most obedient and able son, of course, feels neglected even though the parent does not intend for this to be so.

  LAZARUS RISING: THE MYTHOLOGY OF RESURRECTION

  CASTIEL: I’m the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition.

  DEAN: Why’d you do it?

  CASTIEL: Because God commanded it. Because we have work for you.

  —CASTIEL AND DEAN WINCHESTER, “LAZARUS RISING” (4-1)

  The concept of resurrection, more specifically of people being brought back from the dead, is found throughout religious mythology. Earlier, you read about the twice-reanimated Osiris, but perhaps no other story of resurrection is better known in the Western tradition than that of Lazarus. In fact, the Supernatural episode in which Dean is pulled from Hell and brought back to life is entitled “Lazarus Rising.”

  The story of Lazarus is found in chapter 11 of the Gospel according to John. It tells of a situation in which a man named Lazarus of Bethany, who was a beloved friend of Jesus and the brother of Mary Magdalene, fell ill. News of his illness was sent to Jesus, who did not express any concern and remained where he was for another two days. After these two days, he told his disciples it was time to go see Lazarus and, in John 11:14–15, said to them in a normal tone, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. Let us go to him.” A disciple named Thomas misunderstood what Jesus was saying and thought he meant that it was time to go to their deaths. And yet, he said to the others, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

  When Jesus arrived in Bethany, he found the family of Lazarus grieving his death. Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus, lamented at how if only Jesus had been there Lazarus could have been saved. Jesus simply replies, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23). Martha believes Jesus is referring to the resurrection of the Final Judgment, but Jesus explains that he is going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

  Jesus called for Mary and asked that he be taken to the tomb of Lazarus. He commanded those present to remove the stone that sealed the tomb. At first they hesitated, knowing that the decomposing body must by now have begun to smell. But Jesus told them to have faith, and they removed the stone. With the stone removed, Jesus simply called into the tomb, “Lazarus! Come out!” Seconds later, Lazarus emerged from the mouth of the tomb wrapped in his burial linens. Jesus told the others to take off his burial linens and put him in his clothes. This act of resurrection further encouraged people to follow Jesus, and ultimately this led his opponents among the Pharisees to begin plotting his death.

  BOBBY SINGER: MODERN-DAY MERLIN

  Sam, Dean, I love you like my own. I do. But sometimes . . . sometimes you two are the whiniest, most self-absorbed sons of bitches I ever met. I’m selfish? Me? I do everything for you. Everything! You need some lore scrounged up. You need your asses pulled out of the fire. You need someone to bitch to about each other. You call me and I come through. Every! Damn! Time! And what do I get for it? Jack with a side of squat!

  —BOBBY SINGER, “WEEKEND AT BOBBY’S” (6-4)

  In mythology, nearly every hero with an absentee father is blessed with a mentor who acts in his stead. King Arthur had the counsel and tutelage of the wise sage Merlin. The Greek hero Jason is taught by Chiron. In the myths of the Celts, the hero Cormac is taught by Lugna, a friend of his late father, while in Vedic/Hindu myths, the hero prince Arjuna (from the Mahabharata epic) is taught by the god Indra. These figures are referred to in mythology as the “special teacher/mentor” archetype.

  The archetype of the special teacher/mentor has a number of common traits. The special teacher/mentor:

  • Has some relationship or kinship with the hero’s late or absent father. Merlin, for example, counseled Arthur’s biological father, Uther Pendragon.

  • Is of senior age, often portrayed as at least middle-aged for the time period in which the story was set (life expectancy differs from one age to the next).

  • Possesses special knowledge, skills, equipment, and wisdom that the hero needs in order to succeed. Merlin educated Arthur in ethics, strategy, and politics; Indra gave magical weapons and combat training to Arjuna.

  • Protects the hero from harm when he is defenseless, especially during infancy, and at times harshly scolds the hero for foolish or irresponsible behavior. Lugna hid and protected the child Cormac; Merlin often scolded Arthur for his poor judgment.

  The archetype of the special teacher/mentor is most commonly seen in myths that deal with the “return of the lost heir/ king” theme, in which the child of a murdered or usurped ruler returns to claim his birthright. Because the fathers of these exiled heroes and kings-to-be are usually absent, the presence of special teachers/mentors is necessary in order to validate their returns. After all, they would not be qualified to rule had they not received the proper training and education befitting a ruler. Basically, such special teacher/mentor figures allow the heir to return by schooling him in practices that are normally the responsibility of a father. For Sam and Dean Winchester, this figure is undoubtedly Bobby Singer.

  Bobby Singer exhibits nearly all of the common traits of this archetypal figure:

  • Despite once pulling a shotgun on the man, Bobby was a friend of John Winchester.

  • Bobby Singer is middle-aged and is in fact much older than the hunters that are usually portrayed on the show.

  • Bobby is a walking encyclopedia on all things supernatural, has an extensive library of rare texts, and is fluent in a number of languages (English, Latin, and Japanese, to name just a few).

  • When their father is missing and they need help, the Winchester brothers go to Bobby Singer. Bobby’s home also serves as a common sanctuary for the boys, as when Sam had to dry out from his addiction to demon blood. Bobby and Dean locked him in the “demon panic room.”

  The Winchesters need a mentor lik
e Bobby, a man willing to stand beside them in the face of oblivion. Because, more than once, oblivion has been at hand and the Apocalypse nigh. Speaking of which, let’s take a look at the Apocalypse.

  11

  ARMAGEDDON IT!

  Honestly? I think the world’s gonna end bloody. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight. We do have choices. I choose to go down swingin’.

  —DEAN WINCHESTER, “JUS IN BELLO” (3-12)

  In Supernatural, Sam and Dean are chosen to be the destined vessels of the archangel Michael and his evil counterpart, Lucifer. God’s two most powerful creations plan to use the Winchester brothers as “meat suits” for a little “angel-on-fallen-angel” action. But the collateral damage from this final battle will wipe out millions of human lives.

  In season 4 of Supernatural, the Winchester brothers have some rough times. When Dean allows Alastair to corrupt his soul and becomes a torturer in Hell, he unknowingly breaks the first of 66 Seals, which, similar to the Seven Seals of Revelation, will kick off the Apocalypse once they are all broken. The Winchester boys find themselves on the losing end of things, time and again, in their futile struggle to prevent Lilith and the other demons from breaking the remaining 66 Seals that will free Lucifer and kick off the Judeo-Christian End of Days. To make matters worse Sam kills Lilith, thinking this will stop the demonic queen from breaking the final seal . . . but instead finds out that the death of Lilith is the final seal. Unwittingly, Sam Winchester springs Lucifer from the pit.