DID YOU KNOW that “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” is a Qabalistic Gnostic redemption myth?
This analysis refers to the original 1969-1970 “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” series. That the later “Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated” contains references to Ancient Alien Theory, “Twin Peaks,” and Lovecraftian literature only lends credence to this theory.
It plays out like this: the Gang represent a group of symbolic Seekers on a Path. Their names and colors give us some basic correspondences to archetypal symbols (it’s not a one-to-one ratio, but they’re there).
Fred represents the Perfected Man, Adam Kadmon; his name comes from the Old German for Perfect Ruler (Frederick), illustrated by the two most notable colors in his outfit, the blue of Chesed on his pants representing Jupiter or the Benevolent Leader, balanced by the Red of Geburah on his bandana representing the Martial side of leadership. Fred corresponds to the element of Fire and the Emperor card from the Major Arcana.
Daphne, whose name comes from the Greek for “Laurel,” although not highly analytical, often stumbles across clues which open the Way by “accident,” intuition or inspiration. The laurel represents Victory (laurel wreaths were awarded to the winners of the Olympic games) and also denotes prophetic power. Although not Solar in the sense that Laurel is sacred to Apollo, Daphne is an inspiring intelligence who, with her purple (Sphere of Hod, or Mercury– initiation/intellect) and green (Sphere of Netzach, or Venus– intuition/inspiration), represents Sophia as the fallen consort of the Perfected Man and corresponds to the element of Water and the Tarot card The Star.
Velma’s name comes from a word translating to Butterfly, a symbol of resurrection (think cocoon), especially relevant given that her prominent color is orange, the color of Tipharet, the Sphere of the crucified God. With this in mind, it’s also pretty obvious that Velma is the REAL savior of the group, often using her intellect to recognize “clues”– a kind of microcosmic “gnosis”– illustrating her correspondence to the element of Air. Velma’s corresponding Tarot card is The High Priestess.
Shaggy, the element of Earth, wears the olive and russet of Malkut, the corresponding Sephirot. Shaggy is the imperfect man, the lowest reflection of the perfection symbolized by Fred. His essential aspects are Fear and Consumption, the two anti-virtues which trap one within the Black Iron Prison. Shaggy is, of course, The Fool.
If Shaggy is Humanity trapped within the illusion of the material world, then Scooby represents the fallen Deity. Using Gematria, the name “Scooby-Doo,” or “SKUBIDU” has the numerical value of 96, the same value as “AL ADNI,” the name given to God at its lowest manifestation within the world of matter. Further proof of Scooby’s nature as the Unredeemed God can be found in the simple fact that GOD spelled backwards is DOG. Scooby represents Spirit or Aether, and also appears in the Tarot as the dog traditionally seen on The Fool card, who leads Shaggy off of the cliff.
Note that Shaggy is Imperfect because his fear and consumption are essentially imitations of Scooby’s. Fear and consumption are to be expected from a dog, or a fallen God, but when copied by Humanity, they keep one from the path of Knowledge. This process creates a feedback loop, as Scooby then begins to act like a Human.
So, in each episode, this symbol-laden gang are distracted from their path by Dark Doings and, during the course of an episode, are forced to re-balance their various aspects. They venture into a situation in which everything seems illusory, and using their various symbolic aspects and ritual items (Fred always has a flashlight, Velma always has her glasses, etc.), begin to locate remnants of the greater Reality behind the overall appearances of a situation. The gang has to deal with “monsters,” generally supernatural or paranormal entities who deal in Fear. The gang typically splits up at this point, usually into Fred/Daphne/Velma (Emperor, Star, High Priestess) and Shaggy/Scoob (The Fool), though sometimes Velma ends up with Shag and Scoob. Each member performs ritual functions during the process of solving the mystery, but there is a necessary revelation that the illusion cannot be defeated until the gang gets back together after having split up, a returning of the energies to their equilibrium. As mentioned in Ezekiel 1:14-16, “The Living Creatures ran and returned, as the appearance of a flash of lightning.”
At this point, Fred, acting as a High Priest, occasionally assisted by Daphne, the Temple Virgin, dispenses Eucharist in the form of the Host-like “Scooby Snacks,” the name of the biscuits reflecting the presence of the divine within. Thus “activated” via the Holy Sacrament, Shaggy and Scooby transform into the higher symbolic correspondences and, usually via the process of inspiration, reveal the entire situation to be illusory. The “Monster” is apprehended and unmasked, the veil of Maya is lifted revealing the Archonic power underneath.
The Archon is always someone familiar to the gang, someone who they’ve known since the beginning of the episode. Although we can argue about whether turning the Archon over to Authority Figures has positive or negative connotations, it’s worth noting that the Authority Figures in question aren’t usually typical city cops, but rather small-town sheriffs or more independent authorities. Or Batman and Robin or the Harlem Globetrotters, archetypal heroes and tricksters.
Oh, and it’s also worth noting that there is usually an innocent soul at stake, usually one of the gang’s friends who owns or is due to inherit something valuable that is currently desired by the Masked Archon. In defeating the Archon, the gang has symbolically saved the innocent soul from a symbolic sacrifice. And thus, the Way is opened for the Soul in question, and the gang retires to the Mystery Machine (The Chariot, of course) until next time.
Too bad the whole thing went to shit when they brought “Scrappy-Doo” into the mix.