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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/1650.txt b/1650.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0861459 --- /dev/null +++ b/1650.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6181 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext Light of Egypt, V II, by Wagner/Burgoyne +The author catalog entries are rather strange, so we included an +assortment of information from them between the header and text. +We have no current plans for V I. + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +\ AUTHOR: Burgoyne, Thomas H. +| TITLE: The light of Egypt : +| or, The science of the soul and the stars / +| EDITION: 5th ed. +| PLACE: Denver, Colo. : +|PUBLISHER: Astro Philosophical Pub. Co., +| YEAR: 1903 +| PUB TYPE: Book +| FORMAT: 2 v. : ill. ; 22 cm. +| Vol. 2 has title: The light of Egypt, by Thomas H. Burgoyne ... +| Denver, Colo., The Astro-philosophical publishing +co., 1900. +| "Dictated by the author from the subjective plane of +life" through Belle M. Wagner.--Pref., vol. II. +| SUBJECT: Astrology. +| Occultism. +| OTHER: Wagner, Belle M. +-- + AUTHOR: Wagner, H. O. +| TITLE: A treasure chest of wisdom: +| jewels of thought; the tablets of Aeth in verse / +| PLACE: Denver : +|PUBLISHER: H. O. Wagner, +| YEAR: 1967 +| PUB TYPE: Book +| FORMAT: 63 p. ; 21 cm. +| NOTES: Verses by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Wagner. + "A supplement to the tablets of Aeth in The light of +Egypt, +| volume II, by T. H. Burgoyne." +| SUBJECT: Occultism. +| OTHER: Wagner, Henry, 1850- +| Wagner, Belle M. +| Burgoyne, Thomas H. The light of Egypt. +|____________________________________________ + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller for Sarah with OmniPage Professional +OCR software + + + + + +THE LIGHT OF EGYPT OR THE SCIENCE OF THE SOUL AND THE STARS + +VOLUME II + +BY + +THOMAS H. BURGOYNE + + + + +ZANONI + + +"Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, +and the things which shall be hereafter; THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVEN +STARS, which thou sawest in my right hand." +Revelations, Chap. I, 19 and 20. + + +Dedication + +To the Budding Spirituality of the Occident and +The Rising Genius of the Western Race, +This work is respectfully dedicated, +By the Author + + + + +CONTENTS + +The Science of the Soul and the Stars + +VOLUME II Introduction + +Chapter I The Zodiac + +Chapter II The Constellations + +Chapter III The Spiritual Interpretation of the + Twelve Houses of the Zodiac + +Chapter IV Astro-Theology + +Chapter V Astro-Mythology + +Chapter VI Symbolism + +Chapter VII Alchemy Part I (organic) + +Chapter VIII Alchemy Part II (occult) + +Chapter IX Talismans + +Chapter X Ceremonial Magic + +Chapter XI Magic Wands + +Chapter XII The Tablets of Aeth in three parts + + Part I the Twelve Mansions + Part II the Ten Planetary Rulers + Part III the Ten Great Powers of the Universe + +Chapter XIII Penetralia + + +PUBLISHER'S PREFACE + +No explanation is thought necessary, further than to corroborate +the author in all he has said in his somewhat unusual preface. + +We have enjoyed, immensely, our work of giving to the world this +remarkable series of books on Occultism, and appreciate the large +patronage they have received from the reading public, for which +we return our sincere thanks. We hope the near future will give +us the work referred to by the author in his preface, as +doubtless it will be a great revelation of Occult laws that +govern our little Earth in its relation to our Sun and solar +system, of which it forms a part, and give much light on those +subjects that have been shrouded in mystery. + +"The Light of Egypt" will be found to be an Occult library in +itself, a textbook of esoteric knowledge, setting forth the +"wisdom Religion" of life, as taught by the Adepts of Hermetic +Philosophy. It will richly repay all who are seeking the higher +life to carefully study this book, as it contains in a nutshell +the wisdom of the ages regarding man and his destiny, here and +hereafter. The London and American first edition, also the French +edition, Vol. I, met with lively criticism from Blavatsky +Theosophists, because it annihilates that agreeable delusion of +"Karma" and "Reincarnation" from the minds of all lovers of truth +for truth's sake. + +"The Tablets of Aeth" is a great and mighty work, as it contains +the very quintessence of Occult and Hermetic philosophy, as +revealed by spiritual law. "Penetralia" is a new revelation, and +invaluable to Occult students, as it is the personal experience +of a developed soul. + +To all lovers of Truth we respectfully recommend this Book of +Books, as it has justly been called by many who are competent to +criticise its teachings. It was the author's wish that his name +be withheld from the public, knowing full well that the teachings +contained in his works will prove his motto: "Omnia Vincit +Veritas." + +Now that our author has passed beyond the power of the world to +flatter or condemn, and has given his thought for the uplifting +of the human family, it is but simple justice that he be made +known to the world as its teacher of a higher thought than has +preceded him. He shrank from public notoriety, and modestly +refused to be publicly known to the world as one of its spiritual +leaders for the cycle upon which the Earth and its inhabitants +have entered, but the time has come to announce publicly the +authorship of the works published anonymously under the symbol of +{}, and his writings are to be judged by their merits, and not by +prejudice nor personal bias as viewed from the human plane of +life. + +He moved in the world, comparatively unknown to the world at +large, and his greatest friends, though mystified, did not +understand his true worth in spiritual greatness. The mask, or +person, often hides from view the angel in disguise. Therefore +our author must be judged by what he has written, and not by his +personators and calumniators. The true student of Occultism +always judges the tree by its fruits. If the writings of our +author are judged by this standard, they will stand as a beacon +light to higher rounds than ours. + + +PREFACE + +These lessons were issued to a few of my pupils as "Private +Studies in Occultism," several years ago. The time has now come +to give them to the world as a companion to the first volume of +"The Light of Egypt." + +It is the duty of Occult students to familiarize themselves with +the subjects herein discussed. They should know the ideas of our +ancestors regarding them and be familiar with their thought, in +order to appreciate the sublime wisdom and knowledge of Nature as +taught by them, otherwise we are sure to do them, as well as +ourselves, great injustice. The history of Occultism bears out +the fact that there is very little that is new to the present +time. + +The arrangement and classification of thought differs during each +cycle of time on the different spirals, and, like the fruitage on +lower rounds of Nature's progressive wheel of destiny, variety +and quality are diverse, so, likewise, do we find the mental +manifestations. This age, however, is blessed with a great +variety and abundance of thought, in clear-cut language, that +should enlighten the races of the Earth with Mother Nature's +modus operandi in every department of human thought. + +We hope these chapters will aid to this end, and doubtless many +students will find in them the key to unlock the mysteries veiled +in symbol and hieroglyphic by ancient writers. The author's +object has been to make plain and easy of understanding these +subjects. Much, however, has been left for private study and +research, for many large volumes might be filled if a detailed +description of each subject were entered upon, which task is left +for those who feel so inclined. A rich reward is in store for +those spiritual investigators who will follow out the paths and +lines herein mapped out on Spiritual Astrology, Alchemy, and +other subjects. Meditation and aspiration will open up hidden +treasures that will prove a boon to Occult students, for +Astrology and Alchemy are the two grand sciences that explain the +why and reasons for what we see and experience on every plane of +life. In this age there should be no concealing of these Divine +truths. We cannot hide anything in the air, and for this reason +the Sun in Aquarius will unearth and reveal to man all that the +present cycle has to give during the Sun's passage through this +airy sign. + +The watery sign, Pisces, through which the Sun manifested during +the past 2,160 years, gave up to man their secret powers and +hidden attributes in steam as a motive power, which man has +completely mastered. He will likewise master the airy forces +during the present sub-cycle of the Sun in Aquarius. Already we +see him using liquid air and compressed air as a motive power, +which will gradually take the place of steam as the Sun gets +farther into the sign, or constellation, of Aquarius. Men will +become immensely wiser than they have been, and it is to be hoped +they will leave the written record of their achievements in +science and art to show to future races their status of mind on +every subject for the edification and enlightenment of coming +races. + +Our ancestors were denied this great privilege. Consequently +their wisdom is only symbolized to us in a way that it is +difficult to read and interpret correctly, yet we who have the +key to their symbols can read accurately the truth they wish to +convey, which stands out clearly to all capable of understanding +and interpreting symbolism and correspondence correctly. History +and Nature repeat themselves in every cycle of time; therefore +these forces and potentialities are natural to the sign through +which the Sun manifests. We can go backward or forward through +the Sun's Zodiac and read correctly the history of the hoary +past, as well as the present and future, by bearing in mind the +sign and cycle in manifestation at any given period. When the +proper time arrives, a work will be given to the world to prove +to mankind the law of cycles. + +God is present in all ages and races, manifesting His love and +wisdom throughout infinite creations, and that He records, in His +own way, the most detailed record of any event which takes place, +thus giving to man a complete history of His works and will, for +man's enlightenment, so that he, too, may cooperate intelligently +with his God in every way that intelligence wills to manifest. +Prehistoric history is not blotted out from Nature's laboratory. +The Astral Book of Karmic evolution will one day reveal its +hidden treasures to a waiting world in such a manner as to +surprise and enlighten mankind as the recording angels give up +those gems of truth they have so jealously guarded for untold +cycles of time, simply because the time was not ripe for its +divulgence. + +There is a time for everything, and when that time arrives all +past history of our planet's evolution will be written in an +intelligent manner for the illumination and education of man as +the masterpiece of the Living God. In this way man will worship +Deity and perfect his God-nature, even to Angel-hood. + +If this volume of "The Light of Egypt" meets with the same +appreciation that was accorded the first volume, which has passed +through four editions, and is still growing in favor every day +(besides being translated into the French), the author will feel +that his efforts have not been wasted, and he trusts the race +will have been made better for having read his writings. + +As this is his posthumous contribution to the world, the author +wishes, in this connection, to pay a debt of gratitude and +grateful recognition to his esteemed pupil and friend, Dr. Henry +Wagner, who has so generously published nearly all of his +writings. Without his aid and assistance we would not have been +able, of ourselves, to have given these works to the world. +Therefore, honor to whom honor is due. + +Mrs. Belle M. Wagner has been chosen by the Masters as my +spiritual successor and representative of the Hermetic +Brotherhood of Luxor, and thus perpetuate the chain of outward +connection between those in the realm of the higher life with +those upon the outward plane. + +She is our choice, and a most worthy one to take my place. + +I make this statement in this connection for the benefit of my +pupils and Hermetic students generally, as I am being personated +by frauds and imposters, claiming to be Zanoni. Verbam sap. + +It is my request that a fac-simile of my signature and symbol +accompany this preface. + +Dictated by the author from the subjective plane of life (to +which he ascended several years ago) through the law of mental +transfer, well known to all Occultists, he is enabled again to +speak with those who are still upon the objective plane of life. + +The additions found in this volume, not in the original +manuscripts, have been supplied in this manner. The two planes of +life, the objective and subjective, are scientific facts, no +longer disputed by well-informed minds, and the exchange of +thought will become almost universal among educated minds during +the present cycle. Hence great progress will come to the Earth +during the next 2,160 years, while the Sun manifests his glorious +influence through the symbol of the Man. + +Thanking each and all who have aided in any way to give my +writings to the world, I am, in love and fraternal greetings, +ever yours. Omnia Vincit Veritas. + + +INTRODUCTION TO VOL. II + +What study is more sublime, inspiring and profitable, in the +highest sense, than the "language of the stars"--those silent +monitors of the midnight sky, who reveal HIS WILL as secondary +causes in the administration of universal law? The science of the +stars is the Divine parent of all science. + +The more earnest our study, the more recondite our research and +thorough our investigation of the "Science of the Stars," the +more fully shall we realize the truth of the teacher's words: +"Astrology is the key that opens the door to all occult +knowledge." It is the key that unlocks the mysteries of man's +being; his why, whence, whither. Within the temple of Urania lies +concealed the mystery of life. The indices are there, written by +the finger of the Infinite in the heavens above. + +It is our privilege to make this language our own, and it should +be the earnest work of every true student of Nature to acquire a +right understanding and correct interpretation of these Divine +symbols. And, as thorough students of any language seek out the +derivation of words and expressions, search for the root, or stem +word, and its origin, so should the student of astrology, by +sincere desire and earnest study, seek to know the origin and +root of these starry words and complex expressions of the +"language of the stars." + +The Sun, Moon and five planets[*] of our solar system are to us +symbols of the reflected and refracted rays of the triune +attributes of the great Central, Spiritual Sun: Life, Light and +Love, analogous to the three primary colors in Nature, which +become still further refracted into four secondary or +complementary colors, rays or attributes, the seven constituting +the active principles of Nature, the seven rays of the solar +spectrum, the seven notes of a perfect musical scale, there being +throughout a perfect correspondence, and all are but different +modes of vibration or activities of the Supreme Intelligence. + +[*] Uranus and Neptune belonging to a higher octave. + + +And, as we know, the seven rays of color reflect an almost +infinite variety of tints, that, octave upon octave, are built +upon the seven natural tones in music, so, also, are these seven +active principles divided and subdivided into innumerable forms, +qualities and manifestations of the first trinity--Life, Light, +Love, life being the manifestation of the second two, love and +wisdom, which in turn are the dual expressions of the "One." + +Upon the knowledge of these Divine truths Pythagoras built the +theory of the "music of the spheres." Let us pause and listen to +this celestial music. + +Suns and their systems of planets sound forth the deep bass tones +and rich tenor, while angelic races take the silvery treble of +the Divine melody, octave upon octave, by more and ever more +ethereal system upon system, to the very throne of Deity--the +Infinite, Eternal source of Light, Life and Love. Let us learn, +through the knowledge of the stars, to attune our souls to +vibrate to the Divine harmony, so that we may take our places in +the celestial choir and blend our voices with those of the +celestial singers, chanting the Divine anthem: "We Praise Thee, O +God!" + +To resume. If we would gain a correct knowledge of astral science +we should study astrology in its universal application, side by +side with its more intricate phase and the details, as manifested +upon the individual man and his material destiny. + +Let us digress for a moment. The intellectual minds, the material +scientists, who cavil at the "science of the stars," declaring it +to be mere fortune-telling, consequently false, do but air their +ignorance of this most profound subject, not knowing that it +embraces and contains all sciences, all religions, that have ever +been or ever will be, comprises all history of every age, of +races, empires and nations; that it is the only true chronology, +and marks the destiny, not only of personal man on every plane, +but of the human family as a whole. All mythologies find their +explanation in this starry language, and every religion is +founded upon the movements of our solar system. The rise and fall +of empires and races of men are written in its pages. + +To master as far as we are capable, and our limited space of life +here will permit, we must pursue the study in its broad sense, as +already stated, in the external application of the starry influx +and upon the interior planes of action from God to the mineral, +the mineral to man; aye, and man to the angel, finding in every +section a complete and perfect correspondence. + +To master the alphabet should be the first step, whose vowels, +diphthongs and consonants are the planets and shining Zodiac. It +is very essential to clearly comprehend the action and reaction +of the planets upon the human organism, as an integral part of +the universal organism; ever remembering that the starry vowels, +in combination with the consonants, or Zodiac, form the infinite +expressions comprising the language of the starry heavens in +their threefold manifestation upon the external planes of life; +while the radiant constellations are the ideas which find +expression through this language, which is likewise a science, +accurate in its mathematical construction and perfect in +geometric proportion. + +The student should ever bear in mind that astrology, like every +other science, is progressive. The underlying principles are +always the same. These are like the "laws of the Medes and +Persians," but the plane of action is constantly changing. + +It is a well-established and indisputable truth that from the +Sun, the solar center of our system, is derived all force, every +power and variety of phenomena that manifests itself upon Mother +Earth. Therefore, when we remember that the solar parent passes +through one sign of his celestial Zodiac in 2,160 years, a +twelfth part of his orbit of 25,920 years, we see that from each +sign in turn he (the Sun) rays forth an influx peculiar to that +special sign; and, as there are no two signs alike in nature or +quality, hence the passage of the Sun from one sign into another +causes a change of polarity in planetary action, which can be +fully demonstrated and conclusively proven. It follows, as a +natural sequence, that the rules formulated and taught by +astrologers in reference to the plane of planetary influence in +one sub-cycle will not hold good in the next. To illustrate: In +the year 1881 the Sun passed from the sign Pisces into Aquarius, +thus beginning a new cycle of solar force. The human race has +entered upon a cycle in every respect differing in nature and +action from the past cycle of 2,160 years. The sign Aquarius is +masculine, electric, positive. It is intellectual in character, +scientific, philosophic, artistic, intuitive and metaphysical. It +is the sign of the Man. The truths of the past are becoming +etherealized. Our solar parent has scarcely crossed the threshold +of the sign Aquarius, and already we observe in many directions +the activities of the peculiar influx. True, it is but the first +flush of the dawn of a new era, the harbinger of a glorious day +to our race. In the light of this truth, ponder well on the +nature of the influx radiating from the solar center, each orb of +his shining family absorbing a different ray, or attribute, of +solar energy, corresponding to its own peculiar nature. The +Earth, in her annual passage about her solar parent, receives the +harmonious or discordant vibrations of this astral influx +according to the many angles she forms to the various planets. + +We see, then, that the Earth is enveloped in an atmosphere, or +zone, of occult force we recognize as humane, mental, positive, +etc., acting and reacting upon the human family through the laws +of vibration in strict and exact ratio to its interior capacity +to receive and ability to externalize upon the material plane of +being. The results, as far as this stage of existence goes, will +be manifest as man vibrates harmoniously or otherwise to the +stellar cause. + +The present sub-cycle producing an entirely different influence +to that of the past cycle, whose force was watery, magnetic and +feminine, causes a warring of elements, confusion and +uncertainty, until the old are displaced by the new conditions. +We should learn from these facts that it is folly to brand as +false and condemn as worthless the rules and formulas, and even +religious thought, of the past when we find upon careful +investigation and crucial tests their inadequacy to account for +present conditions. They were true in their cycle, and applied to +past conditions and states of mental development. But in this new +era, upon whose threshold we now stand, the vibrations become +more intense. Man's whole nature is being tuned to a higher key. +We must not forget that these cycles apply to the race in their +effect, and to the individual only as an integral part of the +whole. To illustrate. The sign Aquarius is an electrical, +positive, masculine influence, and will consequently manifest its +chief activities upon the masculine qualities of the human soul; +and to-day we have evidence of this in the gradual +enfranchisement of woman, arousing the positive attributes of her +nature in demanding equal rights with her brother, man, in the +political arena, as she has already done in the educational +field. The masculine portion of the race is becoming more +aggressive, mentally, asserting greater individuality, +independent thought and action. The intellect of the race is +being directed, however slowly, into scientific channels, while +the human soul is slowly awakening to a sense of a deathless +immortality and a desire for spiritual truth. It is slowly but +surely shaking off the yoke of an effete priesthood and the +fetters of superstition and tyranny. + +Intelligent man talks of the new scientific and intellectual era +that has dawned upon the world; of the necessity for a new +religious system, based upon scientific truths, which can be +demonstrated, combined with the pure spiritual essence found in +all systems of religion; a religion with more spirituality and +less theology; a broader charity and less dogma, and deeper love +for God and man, its only creed. + +We must now consider the astral influence of the cycle upon the +physical organism of mankind, and particularly of the Western +races, who are moving upon the upward arc of the cycle. It is +quite evident that a radical change must take place in the +physical form and constitution with the influx of more +intellectual, ethereal and spiritual vibrations. The organism +must become more refined and compact, a greater degree of +sensitiveness be attained, with a highly nervous system. The +forerunner of this superior organism is now apparent in the +numerous schools of physical culture and gymnasiums throughout +the land, the many articles and pamphlets on deep, rythmic +breathing disseminated among the people, and last, but not least, +the various schools of mental healing, etc. The masses look on +and wonder, while they exclaim: "What marvelous changes are +coming to the world!" but are utterly ignorant of the cause of +the mysterious change. To the student of Hermetic Philosophy +there is no mystery involved. He knows the cause, and confidently +watches for the effect. + +Each one must seek to comprehend for himself, according to the +light he may receive, basing his premises upon the TRUE +PRINCIPLES of astrology, carefully noting the triune aspect of +planetary influence upon humanity, ever remembering that the Sun +and Moon are the great factors in human destiny, and that his +premises and conclusions must occupy the same plane. Having +acquired a knowledge of the science in its application to the +individual, take the broader field, or universal aspect, as it +applies to human races, and you will find the rise and fall of +nations, empires and families marked upon the celestial dial, and +in perfect accord with the influence of the Sun and planets upon +Mother Earth, in her various movements. And last, but most +important, seek with an earnest desire for truth to learn the +relation of those glittering constellations of the shining Zodiac +to the human soul and their influence in shaping its eternal +destiny. This will reveal the whole of involution and evolution +in a general sense. + +A faithful, earnest and devout study of the "Science of the +Starry Heavens" will lead us on to other planes of thought, +relating to still more interior realms of knowledge than we +perhaps now dream of, and, in the words of the master: "A true +knowledge of the stars will include a true knowledge of the +soul," and we shall realize "the mystical link that binds the +soul to the stars." MINNIE HIGGIN. + + +CHAPTER 1 + +THE ZODIAC + + +To the ordinary astrologer the Zodiac is simply a band of space, +eighteen degrees wide, in the heavens, the center of which marks +out the pathway of the Sun during the space of one year of 365 +days, etc. + +The twelve signs are to him simply thirty degrees of the space +(12 times 30 equal 360), bearing the names of the constellations +which once occupied them. Nay, he, as a rule, still imagines in +some sense that the signs (constellations) are still there, and +that the power and potency of the twelve signs is derived from +the stars which occupy the Zodiacal band of the skies. + +But this is not so, as any ordinary astronomer well knows. This +single fact, i.e., the gradual shifting of the constellations, +the DISPLACEMENT, let us say, of the starry influx from one sign +to another without any ALLOWANCE being made in the astrologer's +rules for any such change, has been one of the greatest +obstructions to the popular spread of the art among EDUCATED +MINDS. Argues the scientist: The "fiery influence of Aries," if +depending upon the stars of that constellation, ought now to be +shedding forth their caloric from the sign Pisces, and Aries +ought to be lumbering along with the earthy Taurine nature. So, +also, the lords of these signs ought to be changed, but that they +are not can be proved by the fact that our earliest records of +that dim, historic past show, equally as well as your latest +"text-book," that Mars is the lord of Aries--a fiery planet in a +fiery sign; but astrologers still say that Pisces is watery and +Aries fiery, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE, IF THE STARS HAVE ANY +INFLUENCE AT ALL. It is not necessary," say these logical +thinkers, "to learn your abstruse science if we can demonstrate +that the very basis upon which your conclusions rest is in every +sense fundamentally false." The scientific facts of the case are +as follows: The influence of the twelve signs, as described by +astrologers, is a delusion, because in all ages they are reported +the same; whereas WE KNOW that every 2,160 years each sign +retrogrades to the extent of thirty degrees, and, as your art +does not make allowance for this, it is false. For, if the +influence of the twelve signs does not emanate from the stars +occupying the space of those signs, it must emanate from +nothing--a doctrine well suited, no doubt, to musty old sages of +your superstitious Chaldea, but quite out of court in our +progressive age--the last decade of our cultured and scientific +nineteenth century. + +So far, so good. And so the world rolls along its bright pathway +in the heavens, little heeding the logical conclusions of an +exact science. But to an initiate of those inner principles of +our planet's constitution all these mental conflicts have a +meaning and a purpose within Nature's divine economy; for it is +neither wise nor expedient that the masses, with popular science +in the lead, should grasp the truths which Mother Nature reserves +ALONE for her own devoted priests. + +The shining Zodiac, with its myriad constellations and its +perfect galaxy of starry systems, derives its subtle influence, +as impressed astrologically upon the human constitution, from the +solar center of our solar system, NOT FROM THE STARS which occupy +the twelve mansions of space. Aries, the fiery, and PISCES, the +watery, ARE ALWAYS THERE, and, instead of its being an argument +against astrology, it is one of its grandest truths that, in all +ages and in all times, Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac has +been found EVER THE SAME, equally as well as Pisces the last. + +In order to convey our meaning, let us digress for a moment and +bring forth a fitting illustration. The condition of our +atmosphere and the surrounding objects--vegetation, etc.--have a +peculiar condition and a magnetism wholly their own when surveyed +exactly at sunrise. There is a freshness and peculiar sense of +buoyancy not visible at any other time. If this state could be +registered by any instrument and compared with any other set +periods during the day, it would offer a remarkable contrast. Two +hours later there is a very different influence, and at noon +there is a wonderful contrast. The same may be said of sunset, +and again at midnight; and, lastly, note the difference two hours +before dawn. This is the coolest period of the whole twenty-four +hours. These are facts, and yet our hearts are all beating to the +same life-flow, and the Earth is no farther away from the parent +Sun; and yet it is the angle at which we, THE INHABITANTS, +receive this Sun's light that makes all the difference between +dawn and sunset, noon and midnight. + +When to these facts it is further added that it is sunrise, noon, +sunset and midnight at the same instant, all the time, to some of +the various, different portions of the globe, it demonstrates +most conclusively that the Earth itself is enveloped, so to say, +in a complete circle of conditions very similar to the twelve +signs of the celestial Zodiac. + +If we apply the foregoing illustration to the twelve signs of the +Zodiac, we shall see a perfect analogy. We shall find that when +the Sun reaches the celestial equator, so that it is equal day +and equal night on the Earth, that he is on the line of the +celestial horizon; it is cosmic sunrise. Hence Aries, the fiery +Azoth, begins his active influx, and extends for thirty degrees, +equal to two hours of the natural day. + +It is the fiery red streams of awakening life that we all +manifest at sunrise; then comes a change of magnetic polarity +after the first fiery flush of cosmic life; the gleeful +chattering of the birds and the cackling of the poultry. A +reaction is noted; all things before active become restful and +quiet. + +So it is with vegetation, so it is with infant life, and so it is +with cosmic conditions. + +This corresponds with the sign Taurus. It is the solar influx, +thirty degrees removed from his point of equilibrium toward the +North. As this sign represents the powers of absorption, we see +that at this period vegetable and animal life is quietly +absorbing, for its own use, the fiery streams of solar life. + +Again we view the activity of solar influx from a different angle +and change of polarity, and all things become active, It is +executive force. This corresponds to the sign Gemini. It is the +solar influx, sixty degrees removed from his point of +equilibrium. Then comes another change of magnetic polarity. It +is rest from labor; it is noon. This corresponds to Cancer. The +analogy is perfect. It is the solar influx, ninety degrees +removed from his point of equilibrium toward the North, and the +highest point in the arc of his apparent journey and of cosmic +life. It is the equilibrium of life forces. + +Again the fiery influx begins its activity, and, as the hottest +part of the day is about two hours after noon, or middle of the +day, so is solar influx most potent at this point in the Zodiac. + +This corresponds to the sign Leo. It is the solar influx, removed +120 degrees from his point of equilibrium and thirty degrees +toward the South. And so on month after month, until the last +one, Pisces, which well corresponds to the watery skies of +February and the lifeless period two hours before dawn of a new +day upon the Earth, a new year to man and a new cycle in the +starry heavens. The Zodiac, then, as it applies to the human +constitution and the science of astrology, has its foundation in +the Sun, the center and source of life to the planet; and the +twelve signs are the twelve great spaces of our Earth's annual +orbit about her solar parent, each one typical of its month, and +each month typical of its corresponding action upon our Earthy +conditions. + +As each sunrise is different in its aspects, so are no two signs +of the Zodiac alike. The sunrise on the first of March is wholly +different from the sunrise upon the first of May. So is the +beginning and ending of each sign, and the beginning and ending +of each natural day, peculiar unto itself. + +When we reflect upon the inner laws of this action and +interaction, we come nearer and nearer to the one great occult +fact, viz.: THE DIVINE ONENESS OF LIFE. + +We find a perfect analogy between the destiny, the life, and +expression of life on the Earth, and the life and material +destiny of embodied man. He, too, has his sunrise, the beginning +of a new day of life, the seedtime, the flowering season, when +life wears a roseate hue; the ripening fruits of experience, his +harvest-time--it may be tares or golden grain; his gradual decay, +the ebbing of the life forces and the icy winter of death; his +gentle zephyrs and destructive hurricanes, floods and tempests, +periods of drought and plenty. Within his triune constitution +there are spring tides and low tides of physical, intellectual +and spiritual forces. Man also makes the annual journey about the +solar center, when, at the beginning of each new year to him, the +life forces of his soul are renewed, regalvanized, so to say, +according to the magnetic polarity of his constitution. + +And so, every form of life has its Zodiac, its orbit of life and +destiny. It may be infinitesimal, or vast beyond conception, each +in its own peculiar plane. So we see that, the whole visible +universe is one vast organism, the medium of expression for the +invisible, real universe-- the soul and God, the great central +Sun, the eternal center of all life, binding the whole into +unity--ONE LIFE. + +The celestial signs of the shining Zodiac have no existence to us +apart from the graceful and unwearying motion of our Mother +Earth. She alone makes our seasons, years and destiny; and she +alone, by her motion about the Sun, determines the thrones and +mansions of the planetary powers. + +The astrological Zodiac of a Saturn or a Mars cannot be like +ours. Their years and seasons are peculiar to themselves and +their material conditions; hence the twelve constellations have +no existence as objective facts of concrete formation or cosmic +potentiality. No! But as unalterable symbols of occult truth, the +starry pictures of the shining constellations have an eternal +verity. They pertain to the living realities of the human soul +and its varied experience. + +What the mysteries are, and what connection they have with the +twelve constellations, will form the subject of our next chapter. + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CONSTELLATIONS + +The twelve great constellations of the zodiacal belt which forms +the Earth's orbit and the Sun's shining pathway around the +celestial universe have been considered as mere imaginary +figures, or emblems, invented by an early, primitive people to +distinguish the monthly progress of the Sun and mark out, in a +convenient manner, the twelve great divisions, or spaces, of the +solar year. To this end, IT IS THOUGHT, the various star groups, +termed constellations, were fancifully imagined to represent the +various physical aspects of the month, under, or into, which they +were consecrated by the Sun's passage during the annual journey, +so that, in some sense, the, twelve signs or constellations were +symbolical, not only of the seasons, but also of the labors of +the year. + +That such a system seems perfectly natural to the learned +mythologist, and that granting the ancients so much is a very +great concession toward this CHILDISH KNOWLEDGE is, of course, +quite excusable when we are constantly told, or reminded, that +actual science--that is to say, "EXACT SCIENCE," does not date +backward more than a couple of centuries at most. + +Even the modern astrologer, much as be descants upon the +influence of the twelve signs, has but little, if any, real +knowledge of this matter above and beyond the purely physical +symbolism above mentioned. And perhaps it is as well that such a +benighted condition prevails, and that the Divine, heavenly +goddess is unsought and comparatively unknown. The celestial +Urania, at least, in such isolation remains pure and undefiled. +She is free from the desecrating influence of polluted minds. + +Such, in brief outline, is the general conception of mankind +regarding the shining constellations that bedeck, like fiery +jewels, their Maker's crown, and illumine with their celestial +splendor the wondrous canopy of our midnight skies. Is there no +more than a symbol of rural work in the bright radiance of the +starry Andromeda, the harbinger of gentle spring? Nothing, think +you, but the fruit harvest and the vintage is in the fiery, +flushing luster of Antares and the ominous Scorpion? Are men so +spiritually blind that they can perceive nothing but the symbol +of maturing vegetation and the long summer's day in the glorious +splendor of Castor and his starry mate and brother, Pollux? It +would, indeed, seem so, so dead is the heart and callous the +spiritual understanding of our own benighted day. To the initiate +of Urania's mysteries, however, these dead, symbolic pictures +become endowed with life; these emblems of rural labor or rustic +art transform themselves from the hard, chrysolitic shell and +expand into the fully developed spiritual flowers of spiritual +entities, revealing in their bright, radiating lines the awful +mystery of the soul's genesis, its evolution and eternal +progressive destiny amid the mighty, inconceivable creations yet +to come; pointing out each step and cycle in the soul's +involution from its differentiation as a pure spiritual entity, a +ray of Divine intelligence, to the crystallization of its +spiritual forces in the realms of matter and its evolution of +progressive life; the same eternal symbols of the springtime, the +glorious summer, the autumn and winter of its eternal being. + +In making this attempt, probably the very first within the era, +to convey in plain and undisguised terms the interior mysteries +of the twelve constellations, the reader and student is advised +to ponder deeply upon the outlines presented. The subject is too +vast to present in one or two chapters. Therefore we hope that +this revelation may incite the student to further research. The +real significance, the true, spiritual importance of such +mysteries, can only be realized and fully appreciated after +prolonged meditation and careful study. + +With this brief digression, which we consider needed advice, we +will resume our task, and attempt to usher our student into the +weird labyrinth of Solomon's starry temple--"the house not made +with hands, eternal in the heavens." + + +1. Aries + +"First Aries, in his golden wool." + +This constellation represents the first Divine idea, the "word" +of the Kabbalist, and the first active manifestation of the +glorious En Soph. In other words, it is MIND IN ACTION, the first +pulsation of Deity in the dual aspects of "Lord and Creator." To +the human soul it is, and always typifies, the unknown, invisible +power which we term INTELLIGENCE; THAT WHICH KNOWS, and gives +unto each Deific atom of life that distinguishing, universal, yet +deathless force which not only constitutes its spiritual identity +and physical individuality, but enables it to pronounce, in the +presence of its Creator, those mystic words: "I am that I am." In +other words, this beautiful constellation symbolizes the first +pulsation of that ray of pure intelligence which constitutes the +Divine Ego of the human soul. It is the force that impels ever +onward the life atom in its evolutionary progress, and reveals to +us the beginning, or first manifestation, of the Divine Ego as an +active, self-existing atom of Infinite spirit, within angelic +spheres. + +Seeing the actual, spiritual reality symbolized in Aries, how +easy it is to note its full significance upon the external plane +when refracted and reflected into the planes below through the +complex action of the human organism, conveying the same radical +influx in the first astrological month and the first sign of the +Zodiac. We can read a perfect parallel in the astral influx upon +the human body, as set forth in the "Light of Egypt," vol. I, +which says Aries symbolizes the sacrifice and represents the +springtime, the beginning of a new year. The first action of pure +intelligence brought forth the first expression of form, and led +to the sacrifice of its angelic state, and, having gained the +victory over the lower realms of matter, once more the springtime +of a new life, with the promise of life, light and love. + +The sign Aries represents the thinking powers of humanity; in +short, the active, intellectual being, the lord of material +creation--Man; and in its cosmic relations, as shown under "The +Occult Application of the Twelve Signs" (vol. I), we find the +same perfect analogy. + + +II. Taurus + +"He (Aries) turns and wonders at the mighty Bull (Taurus)." + +The second constellation of the shining twelve represents the +first reaction of spiritual conception. In other words, it is the +mind's attention to its own ideas. In the Kabbalah it represents +that peculiar state of executive force whereof it is symbolically +said: "And the Lord saw that it was good," after each act of +creation. + +When intelligence first manifests itself form is a matter of +necessity, and, as no form can possibly exist without matter, so +Taurus is the first emanation of matter in its most etherealized +state. Hence it is feminine, Venus the ruler thereof, and it +represents the first pure form of the human soul, as it existed +in its bright paradise within the angelic spheres of its parents, +and reveals to us the first surprise of intelligence in embryo, +the first sensation of consciousness, so to say--conscious of its +Divine selfhood. Hence "He (the male spirit of pure fire, Aries), +glorious in his golden (solar) wool, turns (expressing reaction) +and wonders at the mighty bull (or material form)." Thus the +first idea of pure intelligence in embryo, the result of action +in Aries, becomes objective to its consciousness and is surprised +at its own conception. It is the first sensation of pure, Divine +love within angelic realms, and it (the male spirit of pure fire) +sees that it is good. + +Bringing this spiritual reality within our conception, and +comparing it with its reflected astrological influx, what a +beautiful harmony we find, and yet so simple that verily we +cannot refrain from once more quoting our old-time, worn, yet, +nevertheless, golden law: "AS IT IS ABOVE, SO IT IS BELOW; AS ON +THE EARTH, SO IN THE SKY." Reflecting that Taurus is an Earthy +sign, and a symbol of servitude, we see that matter is ever the +servant of spirit, a necessary means for the manifestation of +intelligence, again recognized in the fecundating forces of this +astrological sign on every plane of its action. And it is ruled +by Venus, the love element in Nature, her sympathies ever finding +expression in this beautiful sign. What can be clearer, more +understandable, than, that the involved principles and Deific +attributes, as represented by the shining constellations, when +refracted through the human organism, so complex in its +constitution, reflects qualities which are the external and +parallel expression of the subjective principles, and, further, +that form is absolutely necessary for the manifestation of +intelligence? + + +III. Gemini + +"He (Taurus) bending lies with threatening bead, and calls the +Twins (Gemini) to rise. They clasp for fear and mutually +embrace." + +This bright constellation (Castor and Pollux), Gemini, is +spiritually representative of the second spiritual action. Hence +it is, of course, a masculine sign and positive. We have +witnessed act I of the soul's drama, and, as some have said, +tragedy, and in this, the third of the shining twelve, we find +the opening scene of act II, viz: The evolution of the twin +souls, or, more correctly, the differentiation of the Divine soul +into its two natural component parts--male and female. + +Here we approach one of the most arcane secrets within the wide +scope of Occult philosophy, hence must be exact, and at the same +time clear, in our statements. Note, then, that after the male +spirit of pure, ethereal, divine fire (Aries) bad conceived the +first idea, and Taurus, the material envelope, had given that +idea objective existence to its (the Ego's) consciousness, we +find SENSATION AS THE RESULT. No sooner sensation than +aspiration; i.e., longing. This closes the action and the +reaction. + +Ever, in obedience to the unsatisfied wants of an immortal soul +Nature immediately responds. Hence "He bending lies with +threatening head, (that is demanding)," and calls the twins (the +twin souls) to rise (to appear or evolve forth)," and as a first +rude shock caused by their separation, or, rather, by their +separate existence as two distinct, yet mutually dependent, +forces, we have the context. + + "They clasp for fear and mutually embrace." + +This most impressive scene in the soul's drama is one of profound +interest and sublime beauty. + +In the Kabbalah we find the same parallel, wherein it is stated: +"And so God created man in His own image (the action of Aries and +Taurus); in His own image (mind) created He him, male and female +created He them." In other words, Aries, Taurus and Gemini are +thus spoken of in pure allegory. + +The mundane Bible of the Jews, like everything else esteemed +sacred, finds its original and perfect expression in the great +Astral Bible of the skies. + +To the average student the evolution of the Twin Souls is a +profound mystery, embracing, as it does, the whole of involution +and evolution, seeing that this beautiful constellation +represents to us the first recognition, or consciousness, of the +Divine Ego of its dual forces, sensation and aspiration, called +forth by the action of Aries and Taurus. How beautifully has the +poet expressed this first pulsation of Divine love: "They clasp +for fear," etc. Evolved by the Divine will of pure intelligence, +they must ever remain as separate, yet mutually dependent, +forces, positive and negative, male and female, upon whose action +and reaction rest the perfect evolvement of the powers and +possibilities of the One. + +In order to clearly grasp the whole of these ramifications, we +again invite our student's careful attention to the same sign, +Gemini, in its astrological aspect, as it is representatively +expressed by refraction upon the human organism. We find that +this sign (the representative of the constellation always) +signifies the union of reason with intuition, and that it governs +the arms, hands and executive forces of man. + +Surely, as we reflect upon the almost marvelous +inter-relationship between things spiritual and things temporal, +we must conclude, with the man Jesus, that "They have eyes but +they see not, and ears, but alas they hear not." + +If it were not so man would, indeed, by virtue of the latent +forces within him, take the kingdom of Heaven by storm and reign +supreme as enthroned king of all material forms. Man, in his +blindness, has relegated intuition to obscurity; has neglected +the cunning of the left hand and debauched the pure love of the +divine state. Consequently, the executive forces within him are +unbalanced, thus rendering him the slave of material forms, +instead of being their lawful sovereign. Therefore, not until, +with clean hands and pure heart, he restores intuition to her +throne, united with reason, can he hope to COMPREHEND the reality +of this arcane mystery of the twin souls, Gemini. + + +IV. Cancer + +"And next the Twins with an unsteady pace + Bright Cancer rolls." + +In this beautiful constellation we witness the reaction of +Gemini, the closing scene in act II. Hence it is, of course, a +feminine force we are observing. In other words, it is that +period (or rather one of them) wherein the Kabbalah expresses the +reaction of the En Soph, via his Creators, as "And behold the +Lord saw everything that He had made, and behold it was very +good." + +Just so Cancer, spiritually interpreted, means equalizing, hence +HARMONY, which is indeed very good as contradistinguished from +chaos. + +To the human soul Cancer is the period of exalted rest. It is the +highest point in the arc of the Divine Soul's Angelic Cycle. From +this glorious, but subjective, summit or altitude in the realm of +spirit it must descend. + +Restless energy and the still unsatisfied longings of its own +immortal nature are the forces that bring such evolution about. +Having evolved the dual forces of its divine nature, the Ego sees +that it is good and rests from its labor. But as this exalted +state is purely subjective, and ideal, it must of necessity, to +satisfy the longing for further unfoldment and desire to know, +descend into material realms and conditions. From this point +begins the soul's involution downward, until the lowest point in +the arc is reached, viz., Capricorn. + +Refer now to the sign Cancer, and carefully study out the +parallel upon its astrological planes and also under its Occult +aspects, as given forth in the "Light of Egypt," Vol. I, where we +read: "Cancer rules the respiratory and digestive functions of +humanity, and governs the reflective organs of the brain." Note +the parallel. Within subjective realms the Divine soul has +inspired and assimilated all that is possible to that angelic +state, and knows a period of blissful rest. But the longings of +its immortal nature urge on the soul. So we see that the sign +Cancer symbolizes tenacity to life; to live we must breathe and +eat and assimilate upon every plane of our being. It necessarily +follows that, the mentality expressed by Cancer must be +susceptible to inspirational currents; to inspire is to indraw. +In its application, we find that this sign symbolizes love. How +beautiful the harmony and contrast of the constellation and its +astrological representative. + + +V. Leo + +"Then Leo shakes his mane." + +Herein is typified the third grand spiritual action which, as we +find throughout Nature, travel in pairs; hence Leo is a positive, +masculine constellation. + +Having attained the highest point in the super-celestial states +of subjective, embryonic existence; having evolved sensation and +aspiration; now, inspired by a desire for immortality, the DUAL +SOUL of the Divine Ego is once more impelled forward; but, as all +evolution works in spirals, it cannot ascend higher without first +apparently descending lower; so ever onward in its eternal march. +This beautiful constellation symbolizes the first action on the +downward portion of the are. It is the affinities of the heart, +so to say, working from within to without. + +Matter, in its more etherealized form, begins to assert its sway. +The allegorical serpent of Eden is working upon the feminine +portion, symbolized by the heart, and, like a magnetic tractor, +the soul's affinities are drawn downward, and, as if in defiance +of all responsibilities, consequences, and Karma, the soul, +lion-like, "shakes his mane in the imperiousness of deathless +courage." + +As we read these weird allegories, written by Deity in the starry +vaults of heaven, the interested soul bows in reverence and awe +before that almighty power we term Providence, and the profane +call God. + +No man has altered these pure records of divinity; no finger has +interpolated one single line. They are as beautifully clear to +the soul now as they were in the very dawn of Nature's awful +creation. + +To the Initiate into Urania's mysteries it is unnecessary to draw +a parallel between the constellation and its astrological sign. +They are too clear, magnificent and impressive to escape notice. +To the majority of students the resembance may not be so +apparent, hence, for their benefit, we will point out a few +aspects of this interesting parallel. + +We read that the sign Leo is the "solar Lion of the mysteries, +that, ripens with his own internal heat the fruits brought forth +from the Earth by the moisture of Isis (the soul)." Just so, the +Divine Ego, by its eternal energy and strength, the pure fire of +intelligence, externalizes through material forms the principles +involved in the downward portion of the arc, as qualities and +attributes of the soul (reflected in the physical man as traits +and qualities). Again we are told, "this sign reveals to us the +ancient sacrifice and the laws of its compensation." In the +imperiousness of a deathless courage, the soul defies all +consequences and responsibilities. Surely, this is the supreme +sacrifice, to leave its pure, Edenic state to gain knowledge, to +evolve its latent forces. And from this lion of the Tribe of +Judah, is born that Divine love and sympathy which ultimately +redeems and purifies the soul and saves it from death in matter. +The laws of its compensation are fulfilled in the prefected man. + +In its intellectual aspect, we learn that the mental forces of +those dominated by this sign are ever striving to attain unto +some higher state. Their ideas are grand, compared with the +nature of the constellation, and all that it implies. The +reflection is clear, natural and beautiful. When we reflect upon +this awful period in the involution of the dual souls of the +Divine Ego, as symbolized by the constellation, and the grand +truths represented by the astrological sign when refracted +through the human organism, the reason for Leo being named the +Royal Sign becomes quite plain. + + +VI. Virgo + +"And following Virgo calms his rage again." + +Beautifully expressive are these lines to those who read their +mystic import aright. Virgo is the reaction of the leonine force, +and is, consequently, a feminine symbol. + +Action and reaction are the eternal laws upon which the cosmos is +founded. They constitute the inseparable affinities, attraction +and repulsion, of everything within the realm of manifested +being. In this mystic constellation, we see the first ideas of +maternal instinct arise. This is a necessary result of the +impulsive action of the heart in Leo--the reaction from a state +of imperious, defiance. The heat of rage or energy and deathless +courage results in the IDEAS of something to be encountered, +overcome, and of self-preservation. The dual soul descends still +another volve in the spiral of its celestial journey toward +crystallized forms. + +Virgo, the Virgin of the skies, and eternal symbol of that +Divine, immaculate conception, shows wherein these forces lie. +Here is conceived, in a pure, holy sense, the first instinct of +love within the dual soul. It represents that awful period in the +Biblical Garden of Eden, wherein the VIRGIN WIFE stands before +the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, where she is fascinated +by the allurements of matter and is unconsciously becoming +enveloped in the coils of the serpent. In other words, after the +cosmic force had SHAKEN ITS MANE in defiance of material forces, +it is the reaction of his subjective half which sees HOW GOOD +material things are; or, in other words, "and following Virgo +calms his rage again." The masculine half, or positive force of +the soul, yields to temptation and is soothed by the alluring +prospects. + +It will be noticed in this connection that pity, reflection, and +compassion, are the peculiar actions of the sign Virgo in the +Zodiac (not the constellation), and that astrologically it +governs the bowels. This symbolism is really very beautiful when +closely compared and studied. That immaculate conception of pure +love of the soul for its other half, upon the astrological plane, +becomes refracted and reacts as compassion and pity. Again, the +soul, within subjective realms, sees how good material things +are, and its refraction represents the assimilating functions of +the human organism. It also reveals to us the significance of the +Lord's Supper. At this stage of its journey, the Divine Ego knows +for the last time that close communion with the twin soul before +the crucifixion, the wine typical of the sacrifice, the bread, +and the sustaining forces, of its own immortal being. + +The intellectual aspect of the sign Virgo forms a perfect analogy +to the constellation, and is too evident for further remarks. + + +VII. Libra + + "Then day and night are weighed in Libra's scales; + Equal awhile, at last the night prevails." + +Another volve in the spiral, and we reach the grand climax of the +soul's journey, within the spiritual world. + +The nature of this constellation was, for ages, concealed from +all but Initiates; for the reason that, it contains the most +important mysteries connected with the human soul. It is the +grand transition are between the spiritual world and the astral +world; in other words, between ideal conceptions and elemental +forms, between the world of design and the realms of force. + +One of the chief mysteries of Libra is, that, it is androgyne, or +bisexual, in nature. So far the dual soul has evolved within the +realms of spirituality; here it stands, in the celestial balance, +between the two, giving way to temptation, takes the forbidden +fruit and instantly awakes from its purely spiritual state to +become surrounded by the illusions of matter. The struggle of the +soul with the attracting forces of matter is very clearly +expressed in the line:-- + + "Equal awhile, at last the night prevails." + +In other words, astral and physical darkness bedim the soul's +spiritual sight, and, leaving the realms of innocence and bliss, +they sink into the vortex of the great astral world. + +The celestial state is now forever lost as a realm of angelic +innocence. It can only be regained amid trial, sorrow, suffering, +and experience, and, when regained, it is as Lord and Master, not +as the innocent cherub. But when, having gained or reached the +equator of the upward arc of its progress, and, united once more +to its missing half, gives expression to that deathless force +with which it started from the opposite point, Aries: "I AM THAT +I AM;" no longer an embryo, but being within the UNIVERSAL SOUL +of being. Before closing this symbolic constellation, we must +reveal the mystery of its BI-SEXUAL NATURE. In the higher or +first portion of the sign it is {}, positive to some extent, and +masculine. The soul is still within the Garden of Eden and pure, +clad in the raiment of God, and is represented by the Chaldean +statues of "The Bearded Venus," or Venus, the Angel of Libra, as +a morning star, bright Lucifer. But in the latter half, after the +fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (positive and +negative, you see) has been partaken of, bright Lucifer falls. +The Sun of the Morning, shorn of his glory, becomes the symbol of +night, or Vesper, the evening star, and the symbol is thus {}, +and the soul loses its heavenly raiment, or spiritual +consciousness, and becomes clothed with matter, the symbol of +night. + +The sign Libra in the Zodiac, in its astrological aspect, is a +very external correspondence of all the foregoing. + + +VIII. Scorpio + + "And, longer grown, the heavier scale inclines, + And draws bright Scorpio from the winter signs." + +We now behold the gates of Paradise guarded by the FLAMING SWORD +which points to the four quarters of the world. This sword is, +according to Genesis, "to guard the way of the tree of life," and +such, esoterically, it really is. + +The soul is no longer dual, but separated into male and female +personalities; "and behold they see that they are naked." +Stripped of their spiritual raiment, they feel the chill of +matter and the lusts of an animal nature. They need clothing, "so +God made them coats of skin." Sex is the symbolism herein +typified, and the evolution of the animal passions of +procreation, of multiplication and evolution. It is the complete +entry of the soul into elemental conditions, and the flaming +sword guarding the four quarters of the Earth to the way of life +are the four great realms of the astral world; the way to +physical life in concrete forms; and the way to life eternal +through the realms of the Sylphs, Gnomes, Undines and +Salamanders. They are the basis of all matter, known as Air, +Earth, Water and Fire. Here we see that, through the evolution of +sex and its accompanying desire for procreation, these blind +forces of Nature find their avenue of expression. Spiritual +consciousness almost lost, and without reason, the soul becomes +the prey, so to say, of these forces of the astral world, which +is the realm of design. The soul's creations must be met and +vanquished upon the upward arc of the Cycle of Progress. They +guard or oppose the way to eternal life. Here the soul, having +gained the victory, stripped forever of its earthy raiment and +the lusts of the flesh, arrayed once more in its spiritual +raiment, purified and sanctified, it will stand once more at the +gates of Paradise, where, reunited with its missing half, it will +partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life and become as Gods. +Astrologically the correspondence is perfect, and so thinly +disguised as to need no explanation. + + +IX. Sagittarius + + "Him Centaur follows with an aiming eye, + His bow full-drawn, and ready to let fly." + +Deeper and deeper sinks the soul into material forms. The +evolution of sex has produced the necessary avenues for the +entrance of countless forces, and the soul is now rapidly losing +the last vestiges of its spiritual conscience. In other words, +Sagittarius symbolizes that state of the soul wherein it is +descending to its polarizing point, and is, therefore, the vortex +of innumerable opposing forces, seeking expression in different +forms. + +"It is the bow (strength or force of the soul), FULL-drawn and +ready to let fly" its arrows (of energy) in any direction that +may afford proper opportunity. Here we see the expression of that +deathless, fiery force, and imperious daring and courage, within +more material states; the primal fire reflected from another +angle. + +But everything is unsettled. It is a masculine force, and +restless, and is represented under the allegory of the "Tower of +Babel" and the utter dispersion of the people (entities) to the +four corners of the Earth, and finally becomes involved in dense +matter, and its migrations are at an end on this side of the +Cycle of Necessity. + +Upon the astrological plane, the zodiacal sign Sagittarius rules +the motive forces and the pedestrian instinct, the thighs, or +basis of locomotion; hence, we see, even here, a most perfect +analogy. This sign symbolizes, also, the governing forces of +humanity, which see the necessity of law and order; hence +government. In this expression, we find the bow (strength or +force) ready to let fly its arrows of energy in any direction the +opportunity may afford; when refracted upon the human organism +and reflected upon the external plane, these forces manifest as +the restless spirit, that ever impels onward, seeking new fields +of expression, out of which develops a sense of order, +restraining and training, or the governing of self and control of +others. When we reflect upon these symbols of starry truths the +mind bows in reverence before the wisdom that created them. + + +X. Capricorn + + "Next narrow horns the twisted Caper shows." + +The Goat, and in the realms of spirit, the crystallized mineral +is the reaction of the former, and shows to us death, inertia and +rest; hence Kronos, or Saturn, the symbol of death, is lord of +this state and condition. It is the polarizing point of the +soul's evolution in matter, and therefore, forms the lowest are +in the Cycle of Necessity. + +Herein we behold the soul, imprisoned within the mineral state. +The fire of the flint, and the spark in the crystal, are the only +avenues of its lonesome expressions. But, as the lowest point, it +is also the promise of a higher, and the symbol of a higher +state, and the symbol of another spiral in its endless life. + +This constellation, as the symbol of inertia and death, is also +the symbol of awakening life, and prepares the soul for the more +perfect expression of its powers in its forthcoming upward +journey. If we pause for a moment and consider the force and +power necessary to evolve out of this dark, dense, mineral realm, +the foregoing sentence will become clear and forcible. Hitherto, +the soul has been slowly drawn down into coils of matter, +imprisoned by material forces. It has penetrated the lowest +depths, and can go no farther. Rest here, is to gather strength, +force. Mark well the difference and parallel between Cancer and +Capricorn, opposite points in the arc. Cancer is the symbol of +exalted rest within angelic realms; Capricorn the symbol of rest +in dense matter. From the former state the soul is impelled +forward on its downward journey; from the latter state the soul +awakens to the struggle for life on the upward are; and must now +give expression to the positive powers of its immortal being, +which have become involved in material form; that shall make it +the master, and give it the victory over death and material +forces. Surely, this is truly the promise of a new day, and +higher state of existence. + +It will he instructive to study this by a comparison of the +zodiacal sign, Capricorn, as set forth in the "Light of Egypt," +Vol. 1, wherein we read: "This sign signifies the knees, and +represents the first principle in the trinity of locomotion, +viz., the joints, bending, pliable, movable." The analogy is +perfect. The soul, which has been pliant, bending to material +forces, now reverses this action, and bows the knee in awe and +reverence to the higher powers of its being. When refracted upon +the human organism, we find that the cold, lonesome state, and +weary struggle within the mineral realm, becomes love of self, +directing its energies to the attainment of selfish ends. What +could be more natural? + +XI. Aquarius + + "And from Aquarius' urn a flood o'erflows." + +The soul, released from its crystallized cycle of matter, now +rapidly evolves into states, though material, yet entirely +different. Its previous arc, from Libra to Capricorn, has been +amid inorganic matter. It is now rushing with lightning speed +upon its weird, toilsome, upward, journey through purely organic +forms, from vegetable to animal; and, as all organic forms have +their primary origin in water, so does this celestial urn express +the primary conception of this physical state. Further, to more +fully express this, Aquarius is typical of man, as prototype of +the last grand goal of the soul's future material state--in other +words, the last quadrant of the four elements, viz.: Bull, Lion, +Eagle, Man. + +There is something exceedingly significant in all this, and the +more we ponder on this spiritual allegory of the shining +constellation, the more we are impressed with the divine wisdom +of those early instructors of our race, who thus preserved truth +in an incorruptible form. + +From this weird, but beautiful constellation, we learn how the +soul has progressed, finding innumerable avenues of expression of +its latent forces; the manifestation of its powers in the various +chemical changes, and development of functions expressed through +countless forms, on the lower planes of existence. The sacrifice +of its angelic innocence, the imperious defiance and deathless +courage, symbolized by Leo, have obtained the victory over the +lower kingdoms; which will be incorporated into his vast empire. +Yet, unstable as water, it cannot excel; or, in other words, +cannot rise to a higher state within this are, of its progressive +life. + +We find that the astrological expression of this constellation, +the sign Aquarius, governs the legs, and is the natural emblem of +the changeable, moveable, migratory forces, of the body, forming +a perfect parallel with its interior symbol. There is a great +deal contained in this zodiacal sign worthy of deep study and +reflection. + + +XII. Pisces + + "Near their loved waves cold Pisces take their seat, + With Aries join, and make the round complete." + +Once more a reaction--the last scene of the soul's impersonal +drama. The constellation (if Pisces is the symbol of rest and +expectation. The soul has now completed the first round, or rung, +in the Cycle of Necessity; and its next state is that of +incarnated man. It has triumphed over every sphere below, and +defied, in turn, every power above, and is now within that sixth +state of the embryonic soul-world that transforms all its past +knowledge, sorrow, and suffering, into experience; and produces +the impersonal man. + +It has traveled through constellated states within matter and +spirit, and, as a human soul, with reason, intuition, and +responsibility, it will, in its next state, become subject to +those same powers when reflected from a different plane. The +twelve constellations of its soul will manifest a complete +rapport with the twelve signs of solar light and power. + +With this we close. The mystic sign of this constellation is {}, +or completion, a seal and a sign of its past labors. + +And, as we have seen, the shining constellations are the soul's +progressive history from its genesis, to its appearance within +embodied conditions as man; and so, by correspondence, are the +twelve solar signs symbols of man and his material destiny. The +foundation has been laid, the material and resources are at hand, +for his kingdom is exclusive. With his own hands he must build +his temple (the symbol of the perfected man), each stone +accurately measured, cut, polished, and in its proper place, the +proportions symmetrical, hence, harmonious; the keystone of whose +arch is WILL, its foundation love. This accomplished, be will +have completed the second round of the great Cycle of Necessity. + +And who, after contemplating the wondrous harmony of this +beautiful system, and the complete accord of each part, can +refuse to agree with the truly inspired Addison that-- + + "Ever moving as they shine, + The hand that made us is divine." + + +CHAPTER III. THE SPIRITUAL INTERPRETATION OF THE TWELVE HOUSES OF +THE HOROSCOPE + +As a sequel to the foregoing subjects, viz., the Zodiac and +constellations, we will add the spiritual interpretation of the +twelve houses of an horoscope, which completes the triune +expression of these celestial symbols of eternal truths. + +In revealing this mystery, we would impress upon the mind of the +student that the order of the Zodiac is the reverse of the +external, in its spiritual application, to the twelve houses of +the horoscope. + +As the four cardinal signs, viz., Aries, Cancer, Libra and +Capricorn, correspond to the four angles of a natal figure, it is +our purpose to explain, first, the symbology of the four angles, +or cardinal points; believing the whole revelation will thus +become clear and forcible. + +The four angles of the horoscope correspond to the four elements, +the four triplicities, and the four cardinal points, or epochs, +in the soul's involution from pure spirit to the crystallizing, +inert, mineral state. + +The first angle is the ascendant, or House of Life. It is the +eastern horizon, and symbolized by Aries. Upon the interior, this +first angle stands for the birth, or differentiation, of the +Divine Ego, as the result of the creative action, or impulse, of +the Deific mind. + +The Ego rises upon the eastern horizon of celestial states, a +glowing, scintillating atom of pure intelligence, an absolute, +eternal Ego, rising out of the ocean of Infinite Love. + +The South angle, meridian, or Tenth House, pertaining to honor, +etc., is symbolized by Cancer; the highest point in the arc of +the soul's involution, as a differentiated atom of Deity within +angelic spheres. + +Having evolved the first dual expression of its (the Ego's) self, +the twin souls--Sensation and Aspiration, or Love and Wisdom, the +Ego rests awhile, radiant with celestial love and wisdom, and +inspiring the Divine breath of life. + +Again the restless impulse of the creative purpose arouses the +Ego to further action. The culminating point has been reached, +and now must begin an apparent downward course toward the western +horizon. + +The seventh angle, or House of Marriage, etc., is represented by +Libra (the Balance), or point of equilibrium; where the two souls +are still one, balanced upon the western horizon. The alluring +temptations of material illusions draw the souls downward, and, +divorced from their celestial state, the radiance of Divine love +becomes obscured, until the twilight of consciousness of that +former state is lost in the night of material conditions. + +This house signifies, also, law, and open enemies, and (Libra) +justice. Sex is the law. The antagonism is surely too apparent to +require explanation. + +The fourth angle, or Nadir, the point opposite the M. C., +signifies the frozen North, and is symbolized by Capricorn, the +crystallizing point in the soul's involution. It is death, +inertia; that is, crystallization of the soul's spiritual forces. +It is the lowest point of the are in the monad's downward +journey. It is the night, before the awakening of a new day upon +a higher plane of existence. + +The remaining houses are the lights and shadows that, fill out +and complete the picture, upon this, the first round of the +Cyclic Ladder. + +The Twelfth House, symbolized by Taurus, represents the first +expression of form of the human soul. It is matter in the most +etherealized state. It is the trail of the serpent; the silent, +secret, tenacious, negative principle; that ultimately draws the +soul down into the vortices of gross matter and death. + +The Eleventh, or House of Friends, whose symbol is Gemini, the +Twins, expressive of the first emanation of this sublime +relationship, the dual attributes, love and wisdom, closest +friends. It is sensation and aspiration, which enable the spirit +to attain to the exalted state indicated by the Tenth Mansion. + +The Ninth Mansion of the celestial map is the House of Science, +Art, Religion, Philosophy, etc., and its symbol is Leo, the +Heart, with its emotions, love, and longings, and sympathies. +Having evolved the twins, and inspiring the Divine breath of +wisdom; glowing with Deific love, the Ego aspires to know; and +all the sympathies of the soul are aroused. Dauntless and +fearless, defying all opposition and consequences, It (the Ego) +is ready to sacrifice this angelic state and explore the +boundless Universe in pursuit of knowledge, and goes forth on its +long voyage upon the ocean of Infinite, fathomless love and +wisdom. + +The Eighth, or House of Death and Legacies, is symbolized by +Virgo, the virgin wife, standing before the "Tree of Knowledge of +Good and Evil," fascinated by the flattering prospects of greater +power and wisdom. Desire and sympathy draw the soul down into +realms which lead to death, and the beginning of a heritage of +sorrow, + +The Sixth, or House of Sickness, Menials, and Sorrow, is +symbolized by Scorpio. The fall, from Libra through Scorpio +(sex), created the first condition of what we recognize as +sickness and affliction. It is evident that this house is related +to the elementals of the astral plane, which become the servitors +of man. + +The Fifth, or House of Children, etc., symbolized by Sagittarius, +signifies the offspring of sex (Scorpio), entities sent forth to +people the Earth, to take their chances of life, speculating on +its future course, fearlessly eager for the struggle, gaining +pleasure in its migrations and activities. + +The Third House is symbolized by Aquarius. This is the first step +of the upward journey, or evolution, from the inert mineral +state. The changes are now rapid; the journeys innumerable; +through mineral, vegetable, and animal planes, of existence. +Here, the Soul Monad brings into actual practice the knowledge +gained on its long voyage. The magical powers of the soul are +brought into action to effect these changes in form and function, +conquering material forces and planes of life, transmuting +Nature's elements to its uses and purposes, and writing its +history, as it journeys ever onward, step by step. + +And further, this house stands in opposition to the Ninth House, +symbolized by Leo; longing to expand its (the Ego's) +possibilities through trial and suffering; gaining knowledge +through bitter experience; yet fearlessly braving all things; +guided and sustained by the imperial will of spirit. The +recompense promised by that supreme sacrifice has been won in +Aquarius--the Man--consecrated now to a higher existence, +baptized in the waters of affliction (experience), ready to be +transmuted into actual knowledge. This is Aquarius, and the Third +House. + +The Second House, signified as Pisces, the House of Wealth, that +which has been accumulated on the long and toilsome journey--the +wealth of experience, acquired through trials and struggles. And +now, with higher, greater possibilities, the soul eagerly awaits +the hour when it shall be born again, a conscious, responsible +human being, to begin the second round of the Cyclic Ladder; on +this second round, to externalize the knowledge gained, to evolve +the involved attributes and forces of being,--a creature of will +and intellect, to work out its destiny, as the lord of material +creation. + +Observe, the order of the Zodiac is reversed upon the external +human plane. But, Aries is always symbolical of the first angle, +and Libra of the seventh, being the point of equilibrium, while +the tenth, or South, angle becomes Capricorn and the fourth +Cancer. The mission of the soul now is to evolve the positive, +spiritual attributes. + +Aries rules the brain and the fiery, imperial will. It signifies +courage, daring, etc., the first qualities necessary for the +battle of life. Ruling the head, the sign and house show us the +ability of man to view the field of action, to mark his chart, +and arm for the war (which will be incessant); responsible for +his acts, a creature of unfolding consciousness, an individual, +whose measure of free will enables him to wander so far North or +South of his celestial equator, within his orbit, or Zodiac. + +The South angle, or Tenth House, now ruled by Capricorn, tells of +the honor, position, fame, etc. (or the reverse) acquired by +patient labor. The crystallized material gains, the concrete +result of ambition, skill, and talent, which will, at the close +of his earthly career, become liquefied by the universal +resolvent; symbolized by Cancer upon the opposite angle, +symbolical of the grave, the end of mundane affairs; when they +will be mirrored forth in new forms in that great white sea, +according to the manner in which he gained his worldly +accumulations and prestige. + +The seventh angle is Libra, House of Marriage; that all-important +relation which may make or mar a life, the Balance is so easily +disturbed in its equilibrium. To preserve its harmony, equality +must reign, blending love and wisdom. It is the perfect poise of +body, mind, and soul, achieved by loving obedience to the higher +laws of our being and the true union of intuition and reason. + +The Second House, now represented by Taurus, shows us that +personal wealth and possessions must come through patient +servitude, steady application, and diligence, in being able to +choose and assimilate the knowledge, that will enable man to +battle with material conditions, and wrest from the abundant +sources of Mother Nature his share of treasure and experience. It +is the battle-ground to which humanity, armed with brain and +will, life and energy, goes forth to battle with material forces +for the bread he must earn by the sweat of his brow, and through +the silent, subtle forces of mind and soul conquer matter, thus +storing up a wealth of knowledge and experience. + +The Third House is ruled by Gemini, the Twins, Reason and +Intuition, the brethren who aid and guide us on our many journeys +in the pursuit of knowledge. As this sign governs the hands and +arms and the executive forces of humanity, we see, that, the +hands become the magical agents of mind, moulding into outward +form the ideas conceived in the mind, projecting these into the +field of active life, that he may write a bright record in the +Book of Life. The hands should be kept clean, the images pure; +and the perfect poise gained by the equal exercise of love and +wisdom, intuition and reason, making the basis of education; the +evolution of the interior or real self. This is the true meaning +of this house upon the external plane. it is Occult, because it +means projecting the powers of the soul into conscious life, +externalizing the qualities and magical forces of spirit, as +shown in the first instance by Aquarius. This can be accomplished +only through pure desire and aspiration. Otherwise, the +unbalanced scales, with floods and cataclysms, will be the +results. + +The Fifth House, ruling children, etc., is symbolized by Leo (the +Heart). The joys and sorrows that offspring of every kind bring, +all belong to this House of the Heart. The sacrifice indicated is +too obvious for comment. + +The Sixth House governs sickness, disease, etc., and its symbol +is Virgo, an Earthy sign, clearly showing us that the material +form is the matrix, out of which are born disease and suffering. +But, the perfect assimilation of the fruit of the "Tree of +Knowledge of Good and Evil;" transmuting the trials, experiences, +sorrows, and suffering of the physical and external life into +true wisdom; makes man master of his material universe; and the +blind forces of Nature become his servants. Having accomplished +the task, and attained the harmonious poise, or balance, in +Libra, the individualized soul arrives at the eighth step in the +journey. + +The Eighth House, or House of Death and Legacies (Scorpio). The +old Adam dies. The sensuous has no place in the balanced, +harmonious being, but recognizes sex as the law, the door to +regeneration now, and that a new legacy is awaiting him. + +The Ninth House, Sagittarius. where, with the knowledge acquired, +self sits in judgment upon the works of the hands and mind, +whether or no they have been well done; the sacrifice of the +lower nature properly made, control of the triune being +established, the transmutations correct and accurate, +assimilation perfect and free from dross, harmony gained by +loving obedience to the higher law of being, and thus becomes +ruler of his kingdom; the long journey almost accomplished, so +far as Earth is concerned, perceiving and understanding that all +sciences, philosophies, and religions, have their origin from one +primal source. Having penetrated the depths in reverent obedience +to the Divine law of creation, and evolved the attributes of the +dual constitution, the forces of his being become crystallized. +He has reached the culmination of his earthly pilgrimage, and +stands forth the perfected human reflection of the higher self. + +The Eleventh House is represented by Aquarius on the human plane. +Friends surround and welcome him. These friends are the pure +thoughts, noble impulses, lofty ideals, and generous deeds. The +bread cast upon the Waters of Life returns to nourish and sustain +him in his encounter with the secret foes, symbolized by the +Twelfth House and Pisces. The idols, false ideas, and vampires of +his own creation, are to be cleansed and washed away by the +Waters of Love, the universal solvent that is ever seeking to +bring about change and new forms; born again of water to make the +round of the astral Zodiac, until, having again reached the +equator of the ascending are, where he is reunited to the missing +half of his soul, the true friend of the Edenic state; the +highest point in the arc of human progress won; the honor and +glory of a perfected soul; the Lord and Master, the "I am that I +am," to rest in peace in the heart of Infinite Love and Wisdom. + + +CHAPTER IV. ASTRO-THEOLOGY + +There is one species of Divine revelation which has not, and +cannot, be tampered with, one great Bible, which forms the starry +original of all Bibles. + +This sacred Bible is the great Astral Bible of the skies; its +chapters are the twelve great signs, its pages are the +innumerable glittering constellations of the heavenly vault, and +its characters are the personified ideals of the radiant Sun, the +silvery moon, and the shining planets, of our solar sphere. + +There are three different aspects of this sacred book, and in +each aspect the same characters appear, but in different roles, +their dress and natural surroundings being suited to the natural +play of their symbolical parts. In fact, the whole imagery may be +likened unto a play, or, rather, a series of plays, performed by +the same company of artists. It may be a comedy, or it may be +melodrama, or it may be a tragedy; but the principles behind the +scenes are ever the same, and show forth the same Divine Oneness +of Nature; demonstrating the eternal axiom. ONE TRUTH, ONE LIFE, +ONE PRINCIPLE, AND ONE WORD, and in their fourfold expression, is +the four great chapters of the celestial book of the starry +heavens. + +In this aspect the visible cosmos may be represented as a +kaleidoscope. The visible constellations, planets, and other +heavenly bodies, are the bits of colored glass; and Deity the +invisible force, which keeps the instrument in motion. Each +revolution produces a different pictorial figure, which, complete +in its harmony of parts, is perfect in its mathematical +proportions, and beautiful in its geometrical designs. And yet +each creation, each form, and each combination of forms, are +produced by the same little pieces of glass; and all of them, in +reality, are optical illusions; i.e., natural phenomena, which +deceive the physical senses. So it is with Cosmic Nature. + +It must not, however, be supposed, because of this perfect and +continual illusion of Nature's playful phenomena, that all +visible creation is purely an illusion of the senses, as some +cranky metaphysicians would have it, because this is not so. + +Going back again to our kaleidoscope, we can clearly see that +without it, and its tinted beads, no such optical illusion is +possible. There is, then, a basis of spiritual reality to all +visible physical phenomena; but this basis lies concealed, +because of the perfect illusion which the reflected image +produces upon the material plane of the physical senses. The +beads themselves are real. These are the basis, and the different +pictures are the result, not of the beads, but of the angle from +which they are reflected to our earthly vision. In other words, +THE PLANE FROM WHICH WE BEHOLD THE PHENOMENA. + +Hence, the nearer we approach the Divine center of our being, the +less complicated Nature's original designs become, and the +farther we are removed from that central source, the more weird, +mysterious, complicated, and incomprehensible, does Mother Nature +appear, to the finite human mind. And this is especially so, to +man's theological instinct, his religiosity, that constitutes one +of the fundamental factors of his being. + +Nature is ever one in her original truths and their duplicate +reflections; but ever conflicting and contradictory in her +multiplied refractions through the minds of men. Therefore, we +will present the primary concept of that grand Astro-Theology +formulated by man's great progenitors; and view the simple +machinery, by which they typified to the primitive mind a general +outline of Nature's Divine providence. + +All sacred books begin with an account of physical creation, the +culmination of which, is the appearance of man and woman, as the +parents of the race; and, while they will differ considerably in +detail and make-up, the basic ideas embodied are essentially the +same in all cosmo-genesis; so that in the Jewish Bible, +accessible to all, one can read the primitive story of creation +from a Jewish point of view, and, when read, rest satisfied that +he has read the revelation vouchsafed to man in every age and in +every clime. The only difference is one of mental peculiarity and +national custom, along with climatic conditions. Hindoo, +Chaldean, Chinese, Persian, Egyptian, Scandinavian, Druidic and +ancient Mexican are all the same--different names and drapery, to +suit the people only, but essentially the same in the fundamental +ideas conveyed. + +THE CREATION OF THE WORLD + +The simple story of creation begins at midnight, when the Sun has +reached the lowest point in the arc--Capricorn. All Nature then +is in a state of coma in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter +time, solar light and heat are at their lowest ebb; and the +various appearances of motion, etc., are the Sun's passage from +Capricorn to Pisces, 60 degrees, and from Pisces to Aries, 30 +degrees, making 90 degrees, or one quadrant of the circle. Then +begin in real earnest the creative powers, it is spring time. The +six days are the six signs of the northern arc, beginning with +the disruptive fires of Aries. Then, in their order, Taurus, +Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo; then Libra, the seventh day and the +seventh sign, whose first point is opposite Aries and is the +opposite point of the sphere, the point of equilibrium, equal day +and equal night, it is autumn. It is the sixth sign from Aries, +the first creative action, and so the sixth day following the +fiery force, wherein God created the bi-sexual man. See Genesis, +1:5-27: "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God +created He him, male and female created He them." + +It is the seventh, or day of the Lord (man), the climax of +material creation and Lord of all living things, and be rests in +the blissful Garden of Eden. This seventh day and seventh sign is +the concealed sacred Libra the perfect union of the sexes. Then +comes the fall from Libra, through Scorpio, and banishment from +the Garden of Eden. That is the victory of Satan, or Winter, over +Summer, etc. It is useless to repeat the same old, old story. The +yearly journey of the Sun around the constellated dial of Deity +is the Astro basis of all primitive cosmology. + + +THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION + +In addition to the creation of the world and the fall of man +through sin, we find all people in possession of a grand scheme +of redemption, and, like the former, we shall find them all +essentially the same. They all require a mediator between the +angry God and disobedient man, and they all require that this +mediator shall be Divine, or semi-Divine. Nothing less can +satisfy Deity's demands; or, rather, let us say man's own carnal +imagination. It is simply another turn of our cosmic +kaleidoscope, and behold! the actors have changed. Capricorn +becomes the stable of the Goat, in the manger of which the young +Savior of the world is born. As a type of all, we will take the +Gospel Savior. It is again midnight. The Sun enters the sign +Capricorn on the twenty- first of December. This is the lowest +point of the arc, South, and for three days he is stationary, or +in darkness. And now it is Christmas Eve. He (the Sun or Savior) +begins to move, and at midnight is born as the celestial Virgo is +rising upon the Eastern quadrant of the skies; hence the Sun-God +is born of a Virgin. Then comes the flight to escape Kronos, or +Saturn (ruling Capricorn), who kills the young babes. There is a +period of silence in the God's history while the Sun is in +transit through the signs Capricorn and part of Aquarius. That +is, he is hidden or obscured by the clouded skies of this period. +We hear of him but once again until he, the Sun-God, or Savior, +is thirty years old, or has transited thirty degrees of space. He +has entered the sign Aquarius (symbolical of the Man.) Now begins +the period of miracles. + +Let us digress for a space, and refer to our chapter on the +constellations. We shall find a perfect analogy between this +miracle- working period and the constellations Aquarius and +Pisces, as therein given. The first miracle we read of is turning +water into wine. This may be seen in a threefold aspect. The +Sun-God changes by his life- forces the waters of winter into the +rich vintage of the harvest, where the Virgin (Virgo) Mother +again appears. Again, the wine becomes the blood--the life +offered up on the vernal cross to strengthen, renew and make +merry with new life our Earth and its people. The devil (or +winter), with his powers of darkness, is defeated and man saved. +The final triumph is the crucifixion in Aries, the vernal +equinox, about the twenty-first of March, quickly followed by the +resurrection, or renewal of life. Then the God rises into heaven, +to sit upon the throne at the summer solstice, to bless his +people. We read, that, the Savior of mankind was crucified +between two thieves. Very good. The equinoctial point is the +dividing line between light and darkness, winter and summer. In +other words, the Sun is resuming his northern arc, to replenish +the Earth with his solar force and preserve his people from death +in the coming winter. The life of a Buddha, a Krishna or a +Christ, are all found in their completeness in the life of Horus; +while the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are Isis, Horus and Osirus. +The same trinity, under different names, are found in all +nations. It is the Sun, Moon and Human Soul, which is the only +true mediator of Man. + +There is another version of this celestial crucifixion, wherein +the Sun-God-Savior, after the supper of the harvest in Virgo, is +crucified at the autumnal equinox upon the equator. We read that +he was dying from the sixth to the ninth hours--three hours, +three signs, or from the 21st of September to the 21st of +December, when he is laid in the tomb. This is the lowest point +of the Sun's journey in the southern hemisphere, and darkness +holds the balance in our northern hemisphere. The three days in +the tomb are the three months, or three signs, before the vernal +equinox, or the resurrection, the rising out of the South to +bring salvation to the northern portion of our Earth. + +We have now only to glance over various diverging lines of the +same cosmology and the same redemption. All these allegories +typified TRUTHS. They all teach the Initiate the mysteries of +creation, of man's destiny and his necessary Cycle of Material +Probation. Some of the most beautiful parables may be read in +this light. Abraham, and the story of his wanderings in the +deserts of Asia Minor; of Lot and his unfaithful wife, are to be +seen still written in the heavens. Hagar and Ishmael are still +there; so also are Esau and his brother Jacob; the story of +Joseph and his brethren; of Sampson and his twelve labors. This +is the same beautiful story. The Sun, shorn of his glory, or +solar force, at the autumnal equinox, stands upon the equator +between the two pillars of the temple (or light and darkness), +and pulls down the temple (or signs) into the southern +hemisphere. And behind this we have the eternal truth of the +soul, when, giving way to the allurements of matter (Delilah), +the soul is shorn of its spiritual covering, or conscience, and +sinks into matter and death. And the story of David and Goliath +can be read to-day as clearly as of yore. + +They are eternal, spiritual verities of human nature, and record, +not only the history of the human race, its mutations and +transmutations, but of the individual man and the suffering and +delusive joys of his material life. Aye, more! It is the record +of all his past existence and a type of his eternal destiny in +the future. + +Another turn of our cosmic kaleidoscope, and lo! the scene +changes --the play extended, the angles greater, caused by the +revolution of our solar parent through his celestial Zodiac. As +the Sun passes out of one sign into another, or, in other words, +forms a different angle to his own center of force, a new +dispensation is born to the world; or, rather, re-born under a +new guise. The great Sun-God appears to change his nature and +manifests an entirely different set of attributes. That is the +way man personified this play of Nature, through his imperfect +conception of the cause of this change. But to him it was, and +is, a truth, and man's effort to externalize these attributes in +a Divine personality was, and is, strictly from the plane of his +mental development and spiritual unfoldment. + +The two pictures of this Astro-Theology, as set forth in the two +divisions of the Jewish Bible, will illustrate our meaning. The +Sun had entered the sign Aries some time prior to the exodus from +Egypt. Aries is the constellation of Mars, the fiery, destructive +and warrior element, or force, in Nature, and we find the Jewish +conception of God a perfect embodiment of these attributes: The +Lord of Hosts, a God mighty in battle, delighting in the shedding +of blood and the smell of burnt offerings, ever marshalling the +people to battle and destroying their foes and the works of his +own hands; a God imbued with jealousy, anger, and revenge. This +was the type set up by the Jewish savior and lawgiver, Moses. + +After a period of 2,160 years, we find the Christian cosmology +ushered in. The Sun has entered the sign Pisces, which is ruled +by Jupiter, the beneficent father. The Christ, or mediator, of +the Christian Gospel was an embodiment of the joint qualities of +the sign and ruling planet. Gentle, loving and merciful, His +words were messages of love and peace; His work was with the +poor, oppressed and fallen; he eschewed sacrifices and burnt +offerings; a contrite heart was the best offering; He taught the +people that God was their Father, loving all, just, yet merciful. +But a strong taint of the old conception has remained with the +human race, hiding, at times, the beauty of the latter concept. +These are, again, the refractions of eternal truths, viewed by +man from his material plane. The elements are here presented, the +alphabet and its key clearly defined. Therefore, let each one +explore this tangled labyrinth of Astro-Theology for him or +herself, and work out the various correspondencies at leisure. It +is enough to indicate the starry originals of all this seemingly +confused mass of so-called Divine revelation in sacred books. + +They, one and all, pertain to the same celestial phenomena, and +the various Bibles are the outcome of man's serious attempt to +tabulate and externalize this heavenly order, to record his +conceptions of these starry aspects and movements with their +corresponding effects upon the Earth. + +Probably the purest system to us is that which may yet be derived +from Chaldean sources. This sacerdotal caste were the most +perfect in their astral conceptions and complete in their +symbolic system of recording, and if the great work found in King +Sargon's library in seventy tablets is ever translated, it will +prove of priceless value to the student of these weird, but +sublime, astrological mysteries. + +In conclusion, as we reflect upon the fourfold aspect of the +subject that we have presented in outline in these pages, the +whole imagery passes in review before the mental vision. We see +that the radiant constellations of the heavenly vault, with the +beautiful reflection and counterpart, the shining Zodiac, are the +two halves of the great Cycle of Necessity, the spiral of +eternal, universal life, which binds the whole into unity, and +unity into infinity. It is the grand scheme of creative life. The +seven principles of Nature, or Divine Activities, are the forces +producing the phenomena within seven angelic states, seven +kingdoms, and, by seven planets, upon the external plane; the +planets being the passive mediums of the positive spiritual +forces. Upon this dual spiral, which reflects the seven rays of +the solar spectrum is produced seven musical notes; one half of +the spiral in sound and color being the complementary of the +other half. Man, the Earth, and our solar system, are revolving, +each orb in its own key, and its own peculiar ray, meeting and +blending with other spirals, and the whole blending into one +mighty spiral Cycle of Progressive Life, revolving around the +Eternal, Infinite Ego-God, ever involving and evolving the +attributes, powers and possibilities of the One great central +source of Being. + +It is a grand orchestra, pealing out in richest melody and +sublime HARMONY, the grand Anthem of Creation: "We Praise Thee, O +God." + + +CHAPTER V. ASTRO-MYTHOLOGY + +The Astro-Mythological system of the ancients, though forming the +last section, so to say, of the mysteries of the Divine Urania, +is, perhaps, the most beautiful of its general features, and +perfect in the complete fulfillment of the purpose for which it +was intended, viz.:-- to convey to the human mind a lesson, a +moral, a truth in Nature; and last, but not the least, to serve +as a basis upon which its inner aspirations and its more external +faith might rest in security. + +When we come to examine the deep, philosophical principles of +such a wise system, we are almost astounded at the result of our +researches and the wisdom of human nature displayed in +formulating such perfect analogies of truth, semi-truth, and of +falsehood, according to the plane occupied by the individual. + +Let us take one instance, which will clearly explain all the +rest, for they are built and formulated after the same model. +Aeneas, of Greek myths and fables, is reputed to be the son of +Venus by a MORTAL father, upon the plane of reality. As that of +actual PARENT and CHILD, of course this is an utter falsehood. To +the rural population of long, long ago, and their simple, rustic +conceptions, IT WAS A TRUTH. + +Why so? Because they believed it, and to them it taught the +required lesson of obedience to the powers that be. But if in +reality it was a falsehood, how can it become a truth by the +simple addition of acceptance and belief? Because it possessed a +metaphysical truth, though not a physical one, in the sense +accepted. + +Aeneas, son of Venus, whose history is so beautifully preserved +by the immortal Virgil, was (metaphysically speaking) son of the +goddess, because he was, in his astral and magnetic nature, ruled +and governed by Venus, born under one of her celestial signs and +when she was rising upon the ascendant of the House of Life, even +as Jesus Christos was born of a virgin, because Virgo was rising +at His birth. + +Thus Aeneas was, in strict metaphysical reality, a son of Venus. +Having satisfied the rural mind, which thus, unconsciously, +accepts an absolute truth under a physical disguise, the +metaphysical thinker, the philosopher, also accepts the same +fable, knowing and realizing its more abstract truth, + +But, again, we are met with the objection that such a truth is +only apparently a truth; i.e., on the plane of embodied +appearances, and naturally the question arises, where (if at all) +is the real truth of the mythos? That truth which is beyond the +mere metaphysical thinker and commonplace philosopher; the truth +which the Initiates recognize--where is it? That truth lies far +beyond the purview of Astro-Mythology. It is connected with the +center of angelic life. Sufficient here to say that, as there are +seven races of humanity, seven divisions to the human +constitution, seven active principles in Nature, typified by the +seven rays of the solar spectrum, so are there seven centers of +angelic life, corresponding to the seven planetary forces +formulated in "The Science of the Stars," and, as each one of us +must of necessity belong to one of the particular angelic centers +from which we originally emanated, the Initiate can see no reason +why AENEAS MAY NOT IN REALITY belong to that celestial vortex +represented by Venus upon the plane of material life. This being +the case, we see how beautiful the ancients' system of temple +worship must have been. The simple rustic, in reverence and awe, +accepting the gross and physical meaning--the only one possible +to his dark, sensuous mind. The scholar and philosopher bow their +wiser heads with equal humility, accepting with equally sincere +faith the more abstract form of the allegory; while on the other +hand, the priest and the Initiate, lifting their loftier souls +above the earth and its formulas of illusion and matter, accept +that higher and more spiritual application, which renders them +equally as sincere and devout as their less enlightened +worshipers. It is thus we find these astro-myths true for all +time, true in every age of the world, and EQUALLY TRUE OF ALL +NATIONS. And this is the real reason why we find every nation +under the Sun possessing clear traditions relating to the same +identical fables, under different names, which are simply +questions of nationality. And when mythologists, archaeologists, +and philologists once recognize the one central, cardinal truth, +they will cease to wonder why nations, so widely separated by +time and space, possess the same basic mythology. They will then +no longer attempt its explanation by impossible migrations of +races, carrying the rudiments with them. They will find that this +mythology was a complete science with the ancient sages, a +UNIVERSAL MYSTERY LANGUAGE, in which all could converse, and that +it descended from the Golden Age, when there was but ONE nation +on the face of the Earth, the descendants of which constituted +the basic nucleus of every race which has since had an existence. +In this light all is simple, clear, and easy to comprehend--all +is natural. + +The astronomer-priests of the hoary past, when language was +figurative, and often pictorial, had recourse to a system of +symbols to express abstract truths and ideas. In order to impress +the minds of pupils with a true concept of the attributes of the +celestial forces, we call planets, they personified their powers, +qualities, and attributes. Just as the average mind of to-day +cannot conceive of Deity apart from personality, so did primitive +man clothe his ideas in actual forms, and in these +impersonations, they combined the nature of the celestial orb +with that of the zodiacal sign or signs, in which the planet +exerted its chief and most potent activities. For instance, the +planet Mars, whose chief constellation is Aries, was described as +a great warrior, mighty in battle, fierce in anger, fearless, +reckless, and destructive; while the mechanical and constructive +qualities were personified as Vulcan, who forged the thunderbolts +of Jove, built palaces for the gods, and made many useful and +beautiful articles. Then, again, we find that Pallas Athene was +the goddess of war and wisdom. She sprang from the head of Zeus. +Aries rules the head, and represents intelligence. Athene +overcame her brother Mars in war, which shows that intelligence +is superior to brute force and reckless courage. + +Here, we see three different personages employed to express the +nature of the powers and phenomena produced. They were called +gods and goddesses. This was quite natural, as the planets of our +system are reflections of Divine principles. Esoterically, Mars +symbolizes strength, victory--attributes of Deity. + +Mars is said to have married Venus, teaching us that the union of +skill and beauty are essential in all artistic work. + +Mythology tells us that the god Mars was supposed to be the +father of Romulus, the reputed founder of Rome. Romulus displayed +many characteristics of the planet. The mythos is no doubt a +parallel to that of Aeneas. Rome was founded when the Sun in his +orbit had entered the sign Aries, and Mars was the god most +honored by the Romans. In time, with the degeneration of human +races and their worship, to the rural mind, the subjects of the +mythos became actual personalities, endowed with every human +passion and godlike attribute, the former characterizing the +discordant influence of the heavenly bodies upon man. + +Gai, Rhea and Ceres, or Demeter (Greek), represent the triune +attributes of Mother Earth. Gai signifies the Earth as a whole, +Rhea the productive powers of the Earth, and Ceres utilizes and +distributes the productive forces of Rhea. + +In the charming story of Eros (Divine Love), son of Mars and +Venus, he (Eros), we are told, brings harmony out of chaos. Here, +we see the action of Aries and Taurus, ruled respectively by Mars +and Venus. + +The beautiful myth of Aphrodite, born of the sea foam, is Venus +rising out of the waters of winter, to shine resplendent in the +western skies at evening, and typifies the birth of forms, as all +organic forms have their origin in water. + +In all lands the Sun was known under various names, typical of +solar energy, especially in reference to the equinoctial and +solstitial colures. + +Henry Melville, in his valuable work, "Veritas," says no reliance +can be placed upon ancient dates, either of Europe, Asia, or +anywhere else, and he conclusively shows that such dates are +Astro-Masonic points on the celestial planisphere, the events +recorded being, as it were, terrestrial reflections of the +celestial symbols. + +To attempt to wade through all the various systems of mythology, +and explain each in its proper order, would be to write a large +encyclopedia upon the subject. We have given a few examples as +keys, and suggest works for study. We have here given the real +key, and the student must fathom particulars for himself. The +chief work, and most valuable in its line, is Ovid's +"Metamorphoses." The next, also the most valuable in its line, is +"The Mythological Astronomy of the Ancients," with notes (these +latter are the gist and constitute the real value), by S. A. +Mackey; and last, and, perhaps, in some sense, not the least, is +the "Wisdom of the Ancients," by Lord Bacon. This is published in +"Bacon's Essays." + +A careful study of Ovid, with the key which this chapter +supplies, will reveal ALL that pertains to ancient gods, +demi-gods, and heroes, while a study of Mackey, and a careful +comparison with "La Clef" and "La Clef Hermetique" will reveal +all that pertains to cosmic cycles and astral chronology, which +is the only chronology that is quite trustworthy, as far as +ancient history is concerned. + +While we are on this subject, we must point out some of the +delusions, into which the subtle, magical teachings of the Orient +would lead the student. + +All the monster sphinx, half human, half animal, etc., which the +ancients have preserved, are simply records of the past. They are +chronological tables of cosmic time, and relate to eras of the +past, of the Sun's motion, and not by any means to living +creatures of antediluvian creations, as some wiseacres have +imagined. Many of these ancient monuments, monstrous in form, are +records of that awful period of floods and devastation known as +the Iron Age, when there was a vertical Sun at the poles; or, in +other words, when the pole of the Earth was ninety degrees +removed from the pole of the ecliptic. To those who can read +aright, every lineament tells as plainly as the written word the +history of that awful past, marking the march of time, recording +the revolutions of the Sun in his orbit of 25,920 years, and +relating with wonderful accuracy the climatic changes, in their +latitudes, which took place with each revolution of the Sun and +corresponding motion of the Earth's pole of less than four +degrees. All the greater myths of the dim past were formulated to +express cosmic time, solar and polar motion, and the phenomena +resulting therefrom. These monuments of antiquity prove that, the +ancients knew a great deal more of the movements of heavenly +bodies and of our planet than modern astronomers credit them +with. + +Madame Blavatsky, in her "Secret Doctrine," seriously states that +all these monstrous forms are the types of actual, once living +physical embodiments, and, with apparent sincerity, asserts that +the Adepts teach such insane superstitions. + +Such, however, is not the case, neither is there anything true, +or even approaching the truth, in the cosmogony given in the work +in question. + +And, lastly, we have but one more aspect of the grand old Astro- +Mythos to present to your notice. This aspect reveals the whole +of the ancient classification of WORK and LABOR, and gives us a +clear insight into the original designs, or pictorial +representations, of the twelve signs and the twelve months of the +year. It also clearly explains many things which are to-day +attributed to superstitious paganism. + +As each month possesses its own peculiar season, so are, or were, +the various labors of the husbandman, and those of pastoral +pursuits, altered and diverted. Each month, then, bad a symbol +which denoted the physical characteristics of climate and the +temporal characteristics of work. As the Sun entered the sign, so +the temple rites varied in honor of the labors performed, and the +symbol thus became the object of outward veneration and worship. +So we see that the twelve signs, and principally the four +cardinal ones, became Deities, and the symbols sacred, but in +reality, it was the same Sun to which homage was paid. + +There is a large sphere of study in this direction, as, of +course, each climate varied the symbol to suit its requirements. +In Egypt there were three months when the land was overflowed +with water; hence, they had only nine working months out of +doors, and from this fact sprang the Nine Muses, while the Three +Sirens represented the three months of inactivity in work, or +three months of pleasure and festivity. + +Mackey tells us that the great leviathan mentioned in the Book of +job was the river Nile. + +In nearly all mythologies, we find that the gods assembled on +some high mountain to take counsel. The Olympus of the Greeks and +Mount Zion of the Hebrew Bible mean the same, the Pole-Star; and +there, on the pictured planisphere, sits Cephus, the mighty Jove, +with one foot on the Pole-Star and all the gods gathered below +him. The Pole-Star is the symbol of the highest heaven. + +With this we close, leaving the endless ramifications of this +deeply interesting subject to the student's leisure and personal +research, trusting the keys we have given in this chapter and +their careful study may induce the reader and student of these +pages to search out for himself the meaning concealed in all +Astro-Mythologies. + + +CHAPTER VI. SYMBOLISM + +At this point of our study it is necessary to make a halt; and, +before proceeding further, to attempt to formulate and realize +that, which, so far, we have been pursuing. + +First, then, we have passed in review the Zodiac, and then the +constellations. From this we mentally surveyed both +Astro-Theology and Astro-Mythology; and now, it is our first duty +to realize these in their real significance, and this consists in +a clear comprehension of the Grand Law of Correspondences. + +What is this law? It is the law of symbolism, and symbolism, +rightly understood, is the one Divine language of Mother Nature, +a language wherein all can read, a language that defies the +united efforts of both time and space to obliterate it, for +symbolism will be the language of Nature as long as spirit +expresses itself to the Divine soul of man. + +No matter where we turn nor where we look, there is spread out to +our view a vast panorama of symbolic forms for us to read. In +whatever form, angle, or color they present themselves, the true +student of Nature can interpret and understand their symbolic +language aright. It has been by the personification of Nature's +symbols, that man has become ignorant of their language. There is +no form, sound, nor color but what has its laws of expression; +and only a perfect knowledge of symbolism will enable man to know +the law, power, and meaning, lying behind such manifestations. +The law of expression is exact, and as unalterable as Deity +Himself. The physical senses cannot vibrate to these interior +forces, and through them, comprehend their law. The physical +senses vibrate to the spirit's expression, not to the powers, +forces, and laws, which brought them into objective existence. + +Countless numbers of mystics, if such they deserve to be called, +among present-day students, speak and write very learnedly upon +the "Law of Correspondence," and few, if any, of them really +understand or know anything at all of that law. The intellect +alone cannot solve the problems of this law. It cannot grasp the +true, interior and spiritual meaning, except in just so far as +intellect is capable of externalizing them. The inmost spiritual +truths, that cannot be demonstrated to the outward senses, never +have, nor never will, appeal to any one who has not the interior +ability to comprehend them. + +There was a time when men ruled by pure intellect, without its +accompanying other half, intuition: they were looked upon as +monstrosities. This state of purely intellectual development has +been brought about by the positive, masculine principle, reason, +absorbing its counterpart, the intuition, the feminine portion; +and the result, by correspondence, is as fatal as upon the +interior plane, where the positive, masculine soul denies the +existence of his mate; thus setting upon his throne, only a +portion of himself as his idol, and then, reasons himself into +the belief that he is complete. Love has been cast out, ignored +and forgotten until at last she departs, leaving a vacancy, that +eternity cannot fill. + +This is somewhat similar to their illusive Devachan, an ideal, a +mere mystical sentiment to gush over, but a something they do not +in reality comprehend. Therefore, we shall do our utmost to +explain this universal law, and to point out wherein its first +principles are manifest. Once these are mastered, the Golden Rule +will explain all the rest: "As it is below, so it is above; as on +the earth, so in the sky." + +Here, then, is our first lesson on the subject of REALITY, which +constitutes the Hermetic science of Correspondences. + +First, realize that a line or an angle, for instance, is +something more than its mere mathematical outline. It corresponds +to some power, force, or principle within the great Anima-Mundi +of the mysteries, that are trying to find expression, in their +evolutionary journey, in forms. Let us illustrate our meaning. A +point or dot is what? Well, externally it is the alpha of all +mathematics. It is the first finite manifestation of the +spiritual force. Within that dot lies concealed, in embryo, all +the future possibilities of the manifesting principle. + +This dot or point is a something to begin with, a form +externalized, from which all future forms may spring forth, and +they may be infinite, both in number and variety. First a +primary, simple idea, from which all ideas and thoughts, +intricate and complex, have their being. + +A point extended is a straight line, scientifically expressed +(whereas in real truth there is no such thing as a straight +line); that is to say, it is a form increased or multiplied by +itself, and therefore, is an extension in space that can be +measured, and each extension means a new form, an additional +symbol. It has taken on new aspects, new relations, hence +contains the second principle of mathematics, so to say; but, +besides being points, THEY ARE SYMBOLS. They are principles in +Nature as clearly related to each other as the leaf and the stem +of plant life. + +Each monad, or point in the universe, is the beginning of +something; equally so, it is also the termination of its own +forces in that particular action, and will remain inert until it +becomes acted upon by something else. + +A point, then, is a primary, simple idea, a straight line. An +angle is the same idea, rendered greater and more complex, and +refers to the same forces upon a different plane, and the more we +multiply the angles the more complex and far-reaching becomes the +symbol and the more numerous and diverse become its planes of +action. Here we will introduce an example. A trine represents +three forces or angles, and, when united, form a trinity, hence +harmony. Its apex (when above) is celestial, therefore represents +the male forces of spirit. + +A trine reversed also represents the same forces, with its apex +in matter, hence it is negative. In these two complex ideas, +clearly represented by these symbols, we have ALL matter and +spirit; and yet they are but extensions of our point in space, +rendered far-reaching and complex, by the position and the number +of angles presented. + +Let us turn the key once again, and we find that, both spirit and +matter possess the same outline in their primal concept, except +reversed (polarized). + +Let us unite these two trines, and we have a still more potent +form; a symbol almost infinitely complex. We have spirit and +matter united, or, rather, three rays of force, positive, meeting +three rays of force, negative, at a given point. Thus we have six +points, also six sides, the ultimate of which is a cube. All are +now equal. It is the first force of a crystallization (creation) +of matter. + +Once again let us turn the key, and we have our two conceptions +in a metaphysical sense; the trine with its apex above is as the +trine with its apex below, both the same in form, yet vibrating +to very different planes, and a very different language is +required to read and interpret their meaning aright. The +spiritual, or the trine with its apex above, draws its influence +from the celestial, and as it condenses and takes on form in the +trine of matter, it transmits this same Divine force through its +apex, which points below, to matter. The double trine is found +upon every plane, obeying the Divine Law of Correspondences. + +It is, in this sense, called "Solomon's Seal," because it is the +grand hieroglyphic of the Hermetic law: "As it is above, so it is +below; as on the Earth, so in the sky." + +To continue this line of reasoning, or speculation, let us say, +would lead us beyond the firm basis of human reason; it would +escape the grasp of intellect, to which I am compelling this +course of instruction to bend, but it would never take us beyond +the real limits of the universe; yet, not to extend our +investigations, we would ever remain in the lower trine, in the +realms of effects, and lose sight entirely of the trine of +spirit, from whence originated the force and potency in the form +of matter. + +Therefore it is, that the science of Symbolism has been evolved +and formulated. The symbols, the manifestations, are ever +present, and the study of effects will, to a developed soul, +suggest the cause, the nature of the principle back of it, as +well as the law which would produce such effects. Such is the +science of symbolism; and it bounds and binds back into a +religio-philosophical system, each class of symbols and each +plane of manifestation; as securely as modern savants have +defined the province of chemistry, magnetism, and mathematics; +and, so far, these bounds are useful. But it is only a question +of time and space, after all, because, when resolved back, or, +let us say, evolved up into their abstract principles; chemistry, +magnetism, and mathematics, are purely arbitrary terms to express +special features of the same one eternal thing or science--which +is EXISTENCE; and it, in turn, is CONSCIOUSNESS; not that +external consciousness of existence, not that knowledge and love +of living, but that interior, conscious knowledge, which tells us +why and how we exist, by what force and power we are sustained +and permitted to obey and carry out the law of mediumship, +reception and transmission, attraction and repulsion, spiritual +and material, that ultimately blend and become as one, the double +trine, and, united with the Divine Ego of its being, becomes +complete; seven, the perfected number of form. + +The sum total, then, of all, and the value it may possess to the +individual, is measured by his ability to perceive; for there is +nothing external that is not in some sense mental, and there is +nothing mental that is not in some sense spiritual. The sides of +the triangle, physical, mental, and spiritual, and the apex where +meet the mental and spiritual, forms the center of contact to +higher trines in realms above. + +Where mind is not, there are no symbols, no ideas, no +manifestations. The spirit has not yet reached that point in its +evolutionary journey where it can yet crystallize its projected +force, power, or ideas, into forms; for everything that is, is +the outcome of Divine thought, and expresses within itself the +symbol of its being. This is the arcana of the Law of +Correspondences. + +Remember the above teaching, because upon its full comprehension +rests the ability to read symbols aright. It will aid the soul to +fully realize that, the vast universe is but the mental image of +the Creator; that there is no such thing as manifested existence +apart from mind; and consequently, the infinite worlds that float +securely in space, blushing and scintillating with light of life +and love of the Father, revealing to mortal minds some faint +conception of the awful resources and recesses within Nature's +star-making laboratory, are but the scintillating reflection of +life, the reactions of mental phenomena. So, too, with the mental +creative powers of the mind of man, for, not a vibration that +proceeds from his every thought but what creates its +correspondence in the creative realm of spirit. Hence, symbolism +continues giving to the soul of man, throughout eternity, food +for thought and contemplation. + +All symbols, then, are objectified ideas, whether human or +Divine; and as such possess a real meaning; and this meaning is +altered, extended and rendered more complex with every additional +thing or influence by which we find it surrounded, or with which, +we find it correlated. For instance, $1.00 means one dollar; add +six ciphers to the left 0000001., and it is still the same $1.00, +and no more, because their position is previous, or before, the +1. But add the same number of ciphers to the right, $1,000000, +and lo! we find a wondrous change of force, power, and +consequence. We see all the mighty power of our million of money, +and the possibilities and responsibilities with which, in these +days, it becomes associated. + +So it is with everything else in Nature. Man pays the penalty by +increased responsibility, for every step in knowledge that be +takes, as well as every dollar in gold be procures. Dollars, as +well as talents, have to be accounted for, and their usefulness +increased tenfold. The dollars must not be buried nor hoarded any +more than our talents, but each, unfolded and doubled, so that we +may be instrumental in helping our coworkers in their upward +path, in the Cycle of Necessity. Knowledge is the basic +foundation in reading Nature's language. Purity of thought, truth +in motive, and unselfish benevolence, will lift the veil that now +lies between the two trines, cause and effect, spirit and matter. + +We have given the key and explained the alphabet of this wondrous +law; therefore we close. Each must, by the same rules, work out +the special links in the chain for him or herself. The angle from +which each take their view determines the reading and +interpretation of the symbols presented, whether that be from the +apex, the sides or the base, for every symbol has its trinity in +principles and form. Cause and effect are but the action and +reaction; the result is the symbol which reveals the +correspondence of both. + + +CHAPTER VII. ALCHEMY--PART I + +What a weird yet strangely pleasing name the term Alchemy is. It +is simple, yet so infilled and intermixed with the possible +verities of exact science and the philosophical speculations on +the infinite and the unknown, as to elude our mental grasp, as it +were, by its own subtle essence, and defy the keenest analysis of +our profoundest generalizers in science. And yet, in spite of +this self-evident truth, how fascinating the sound of the word +becomes to the mystic student's ear, and bow pregnant with awful +and mysterious possibilities it becomes, to the immortal powers +embodied within the complex human organism termed man. + +Words, if we but knew it, have the same innate, magnetic +influence, and possess the same power of affinity and antipathy, +that the human family possesses; as well as all organic and +inorganic forms and substances; and how sad, to a developed soul, +to witness the inharmony existing in our midst, caused by the +misapplication of names. + +Most human beings are very conscious of personal, or human +magnetism, and its effects. But they stop right there, and do not +dream of the subtle, silent influences emanating from a name, a +word, and the power existing in words, when properly used. The +human mind is so absorbed in Nature's manifestations, which are +only the husks, that they fail to see the true, hidden meaning +and realities, concealed beneath the material shell. + +We will first notice the meaning of the words which constitute +our subject, viz., Alchemy, then give a brief review of its +physical correspondence, chemistry, and its true relation to its +spiritual counterpart, Alchemy. + +"Al" and "Chemy" are Arabic-Egyptian words which have much more +in them than appears upon the surface, and possess a far +different meaning from the one which the terms usually convey to +the average mind. Terms, and the ideas we associate with them, +vary according to the age in which we live. So with those, from +which the word Alchemy is derived. + +Let us penetrate beneath the mere verbal husk with which +linguistic usage and convenience have clothed them, and which, in +the course of ages, has become nothing but the dross of +decomposed verbiage, and see if we can excavate the living germ, +that has become buried within. If we can do so, we shall, at the +commencement of our study, have attained unto a realization of +the ancient meaning and real significance of the terms employed. +And this will be no small gain, and will form no unimportant part +of the equipment in our present research. + +The Arabians, who derived the whole of their Occult arcana from +the Egyptians, are the most likely to render us the most truthful +and direct significance of the word, and so we find them. Thus, +"Al," meaning "the," and Kimia," which means the hidden, or +secret, ergo THE OCCULT, from which are derived our modern term +Alchemy, more properly Al Kimia. This is very different from the +popular conception to-day, which supposes that the word relates +to the art of artificially making gold by some chemical process, +and viewing it only as some sort of magical chemistry, forgetting +that, the science of chemistry itself is also derived from the +Kimia of Arabian mystics, and was considered as one and the same +thing by every writer of the Middle Ages. + +At this time, the physical man was not so dense and grasping for +husks; hence the soul and spiritual part had greater control, and +could impart the real, the alchemical side, of Nature to him; +hence the Law of Correspondences was understood, and guided the +educated in their considerations, researches, and conclusions. + +Do you ask why, if they were so enlightened, they have veiled +their knowledge from the world at large? + +The power of mind over matter was as potent in those days as now, +and the masses were as correspondingly corrupt as they are today. +Therefore, to put this knowledge into the hands of the multitude +would have been generally disastrous. So they wrote it in +mystical language, knowing that all educated students in Nature's +laws, at that time, would understand; yet they little dreamed how +much their language would be misunderstood in the centuries to +follow, by those who look to their ancient ancestry for aid on +subjects that have become at the present day so lost in mystery. + +Having ascertained, beyond question, that Alchemy was, and +consequently is, the secret science of Occultism--not the +philosophy, mind you, but the science; let us proceed, for, we +shall find that these two aspects may often differ, or appear to +differ, widely from each other, though they can never do so in +reality, for the latter produces and establishes the facts, while +the former occupies itself in their tabulation and deductions. +The science constitutes the foundation, and the philosophy, the +metaphysical speculations, which rest thereon. If these important +distinctions are borne in mind, all the apparent confusion, +contradiction, and other intellectual debris, will either +disappear or resolve themselves into their own proper groups, so +that we may easily classify them. + +It is at this very point, that, so many students go astray amid +the labyrinths of science and philosophy. They, unconsciously, so +mix and intermingle the two terms, that nine-tenths of the +students present only one side of the question--philosophy, which +soon runs into theory, if not supported by the science, which +they have lost in their volumes of philosophy. + +You may say, one subject at a time. Yes, this may be true, if its +twin brother is not absorbed and forgotten. + +In this chapter, we shall deal especially with organic Alchemy. + +Organic Alchemy deals exclusively with living, organic things, +and in this connection differs from the Alchemy of inorganic +matter. These two aspects may, in this one respect, be compared +to organic and inorganic chemistry, to which originally they +belonged; as astrology did to astronomy. Alchemy and +astrology--twin sisters--were the parents of the modern +offspring, known in chemistry and astronomy as exact science. +These latter, however, deal with shadows and phenomenal +illusions, while the former concern the living realities, which +produce them. Therefore, there can be "no new thing under the +sun," saith Solomon. + +First, let us deal with the most lovely form of our art, that +which pertains to the floral and vegetable kingdoms. Every flower +or blade of grass, every tree of the forest and stagnant weed of +the swamp, is the outcome of, and ever surrounded by, its +corresponding degree of spiritual life. There is not a single +atom but what is the external expression of some separate, living +force, within the spaces of Aeth, acting in unison with the +dominant power corresponding with the type of life. + +If science could only behold this wonderful laboratory within the +vital storehouse of Nature, she would no longer vainly seek for +THE ORIGIN OF LIFE, nor wonder, what may have become of the +missing link in scientific evolution, because, she would quickly +realize that, biogenesis is the one grand truth of both animate +and inanimate Nature, the central, living source of which is God. +Science would also, further realize that, this biune life is ever +in motion throughout the manifested universe; circulating around +the focii of creative activities, which we term suns, stars, and +planets, awaiting the conditions which are ever present for +material incarnation; and under all possible combinations of +circumstances and conditions, conceivable and inconceivable, +adapting itself to continuous phenomenal expression. Links, so +called, in this mighty chain of evolution, may appear to be +missing here and there, and, for that matter, whole types may +seem to be wanting, but, this is only because of our imperfect +perception, and, in any case, can make no real difference with +the facts, because, if such be a reality, if there be what we may +term MISSING LINKS in the scheme of evolution, it only shows that +spirit, although associated with, is ever independent of matter. + +But matter--what is to become of it? Is it independent of spirit? +The kindness of the Divine spirit heeds not the unconscious mind +of matter and its boasted independence, and works silently on, +and at last, accomplishes its mission--the evolution of matter, +the uplifting of the soul of man, as well as the universe. The +blindness of man is dense, and the saddest part to admit is that, +they will so stubbornly remain so. + +If, for one instant, the penetrating eye of the soul could shine +forth through the physical orbs of vision, and imprint the +scenes, beheld behind the veil, upon the tablets of the brain of +the physical organism, a fire would be kindled that, could never +be quenched by the fascinating allurements of the material, +perishable things, of matter. + +That development of the real atom of biune life can, and does, go +forward, irrespective of the gradation of physical types, needs +no convincing proof, other than visible Nature. + +MAN IS NOT THE OUTCOME OF PHYSICAL EVOLUTION, and produced by a +series of blind laws, that lead him upward from protozoa to man, +as a child climbs up stairs, advancing regularly, ONE STEP AS A +TIME. This latter conception, we know, is the theory of exact +science, but not of Alchemy, not of the science of Occultism. +Man, according to Wallace, Darwin, Huxley, and Tyndall, is what +progressive stages of physical evolution have made him. But the +very reverse is true. The fauna and flora of past geological +periods are what the human soul has produced, by virtue of its +gradual advancement to higher states and conditions of life, so +that, so far from man being the outcome of the planet's +development, such material progress is the outgrowth of man's +advancement, proving again that, matter is not independent of +spirit, neither can spirit be independent of matter for its +expressions. They so interblend that, the dividing line cannot be +detected by the untrained eye of the exact scientist. But, that +time is not far distant, when the scientists will prepare and +evolve their interior being to take up the spiritual thread, +exactly where the visible thread ends, and carry forth the work, +as far as the mortal mind of man can penetrate, while embodied in +the physical form. + +God hasten this day is my prayer, for then man will become more +spiritual and aspiring for advancement and knowledge, thus, +setting up vibrations that will create higher and loftier +conditions for the physical man. Aye! then they will know that, +even the birth of the world itself, owes its primal genesis to +the desire of the human atom for earthly embodiment. + +Here is where exact science, or the counterpart of Alchemy, +becomes both profitable and helpful. Says Paracelsus: "The true +use of chemistry is not to make gold, but to prepare medicines." +He admits four elements--the STAR, the ROOT, the ELEMENT and the +SPERM. These elements were composed of the three principles, +SIDERIC SALT, SULPHUR, and MERCURY. Mercury, or spirit, sulphur, +or oil, and salt, and the passive principles, water and earth. +Herein we see the harmony of the two words, Alchemy and +Chemistry. One is but the continuation of the other, and they +blend so into each other that, they are not complete, apart. + +The chemist, in his analysis of the various component parts of +any form of matter, knows also the proportional combinations; and +thus, by the Law of Correspondence, could, by the same use of the +spiritual laws of Alchemy, analyze and combine the same elements +from the atmosphere, to produce the corresponding expression of +crystallized form. By the same laws, are affinities and +antipathies discovered and applied, in every department of +Nature's wonderful laboratory. + +Chemistry is the physical expression of Alchemy, and any true +knowledge of chemistry is:--not the knowing of the names of the +extracts and essences, and the plants themselves, and that +certain combinations produce certain results, obtained from blind +experiments, yet, prompted by the Divine spirit within; but, +knowledge born from knowing the why and wherefore of such +effects. What is called the oil of olives is not a single, simple +substance, but it is more or less combined with other essential +elements, and will fuse and coalesce with other oils and essences +of similar nature. The true chemist will not confine his +researches for knowledge to the mere examination, analysis, and +experiments, in organic life; but will inform himself equally, in +physical astrology; and learn the nature, attributes, and +manifested influences of the planets, that constitute our +universe; and, under which, every form of organic matter is +subject, and especially, controlled by. Then, by learning the +influence of the planets upon the human family; and that special +planetary vibration that influences the individual; he can +intelligently and unerringly administer medicines to remove +disease in man. + +A familiarity with the mere chemical relations of the planet to +man, makes still more apparent, the mutual affinity of both to +the soil, from which they appear to spring, and to which, they +ultimately return; so much so that, we have become conscious, +that, the food we eat is valuable or otherwise as a life +sustainer, in proportion to the amount of life it contains. We +are so complex in our organization that, we require a great +variety of the different elements to sustain all the active +functions and powers within us. Man, being a microcosm, or a +miniature universe, must sustain that universe, by taking into +the system the various elements, which combine to make up the +Infinite Universe of God. Animal flesh is necessary to certain +organized forms, both animal and man. When I say necessary, I do +not mean an acquired taste and habit of consuming just so much +flesh a day; but a constitution, which would not be complete in +its requirements, without animal flesh. I am thankful such do not +constitute the masses. + +Science would say, you only require certain combinations of +oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon, to sustain all the +activities of the physical body. Apparently, this is true. Upon +the surface it is, but in reality it is not; because if it were +really true there could be no famines. Science could make bread +out of stones, as was suggested at the temptation of Christ in +the wilderness. And yet, no one knows better than the academies +of Science, themselves, that their learned professors would +quickly starve to death, if they were compelled to produce their +food from the chemical properties of the rocks. They can make a +grain of wheat chemically perfect, but they cannot make the +invisible germ by which it will grow, become fruitful, and +reproduce itself. They can reproduce from the stones in the +street the same chemical equivalents that go to compose gluten, +albumen, and starch--the trinity which must always be present to +sustain life; but they cannot, by any known process, make such +chemical equivalents of these substances, do the same thing. Now, +if not, why not? Science cannot answer this. A very mysterious +shake of the head and profound silence is the only answer. Ask +Science HOW THE PLANT GROWS, what causes the atoms of matter to +build up root, stem, leaf, bud and flower, true to the parent +species from which the germinal atom came. What is there behind +the plant that stamps it with such striking individuality? And +why, from the same soil, the deadly aconite and nutritious +vegetable can grow, each producing qualities in harmony with its +own nature, so widely different in their effects upon the human +organism, YET, SO COMPLETELY IDENTICAL AS REGARDS THE SOURCE FROM +WHICH THEY APPEAR TO SPRING. There must be a something to account +for this, and this something, ancient Alchemy alone can +scientifically reveal and expound; and, this knowledge lies just +beyond that line which calls a halt to material scientists, and +says: "You can go no farther; this is beyond your purview. The +end of the material thread has been reached, and unless you can +connect it with the thread of the next plane, your researches +must stop." + +Before entering upon and answering these vital questions, we must +digress a little, and make ourselves perfectly familiar with the +ideas and revelations of advanced physical science upon the +subject, and for this purpose no more trustworthy guide can be +consulted than the new edition of "The Chemistry of Common Life," +by the late James F. W. Johnson, M. A., England, and revised by +Arthur Herbert Church, M. A. In chapter IV on page 56 of this +work, upon the anatomy of plant life, we read: + +"How interesting it is to reflect on the minuteness of the organs +by which the largest plants are fed and sustained. Microscopic +apertures in the leaf suck in gaseous food from the air; the +surfaces of microscopic hairs suck a liquid food from the soil. +We are accustomed to admire, with natural and just astonishment, +how huge, rocky reefs, hundreds of miles in length, can be built +up by the conjoined labors of myriads of minute zoophytes, +laboring together on the surface of a coral rock; but it is not +less wonderful that, by the ceaseless working of similar +microscopic agencies in leaf and root, the substance of vast +forests should be built up and made to grow before our eyes. It +is more wonderful, in fact; for whereas, in the one case, the +chief result is that, dead matter extracted from the sea is +transformed into a dead rock; in the other, the lifeless matter +of the earth and air are converted by these minute plant-builders +into living forms, lifting their heads aloft to the sky, waving +with every wind that blows, and beautifying whole continents with +the varying verdure of their ever-changing leaves." + +Further on in the same chapter, on pages 62-3, the same eloquent +writer continues: + +"But the special chemical changes that go on within the plant, +could we follow them, would appear not less wonderful than the +rapid production of entire microscopic vegetables from the raw +food contained in the juice of the grape. It is as yet altogether +incomprehensible, even to the most refined physiological +chemistry, how, from the same food taken in from the air, and +from generally similar food drawn up from the soil, different +plants, and different parts of plants, should be able to extract +or produce substances so very different from each other in +composition and in all of their properties. From the seed-vessels +of one (the poppy) we collect a juice which dries up into our +commercial opium; from the bark of another (cinchona) we extract +the quinine with which we assuage the raging fever; from the +leaves of others, like those of hemlock and tobacco, we distil +deadly poisons, often of rare value for their medicinal uses. The +flowers and leaves of some yield volatile oils, which we delight +in for their odors and their aromatic qualities; the seeds of +others give fixed oils, which are prized for the table or use in +the arts * * * These, and a thousand other similar facts, tell us +how wonderfully varied are the changes which the same original +forms of matter undergo in the interior of living plants. Indeed, +whether we regard the vegetable as a whole, or examine its +minutest part, we find equal evidence of the same diversity of +changes and of the same production, in comparatively minute +quantities, of very different, yet often characteristic forms of +matter." + +From the whole of the foregoing, we observe the exact position to +be the one we have previously stated. If such wondrous things can +be revealed to us through the physical science of chemistry, what +think you must be hidden from our physical sight and knowledge by +the veil which hangs between matter and spirit? Think you not, it +is worth the effort to penetrate beyond that point where the atom +disappears from the view of the scientist? + +If plants produce such wonderful phenomena in their life and +influence, what must the Divine organism of man have concealed +within his microscopic universe, to study and comprehend? Plant +life is merely the alphabet of the complex, intricate, and +multitudinous processes, going on in the human body. + +And, as the mechanical microscope of physical science cannot +reveal the why and the wherefore, let us, for a brief moment, +disclose some of the wonders that declare their existence, when +subjected to the penetrating alchemical lens, of the inward +spirit. The first thing that intrudes itself upon our notice, by +virtue of its primary importance, is the grand fact of +biogenesis--life emanating from life. We perceive every external +form to be the physical symbol of a corresponding degree of +spiritual life; that each complete plant represents a complete +cycle, state, or degree of interior existence; that it is made up +and consists of countless millions of separate atoms of life; +that these atoms of spiritual activity are the real instigators +of the life and motion of corresponding material atoms; that they +ever obey the Divine impulse of co-operative unity, in their +chemical, as well as their spiritual affinity. Consequently, +everything in the form of material substance must be, and is, but +the means for the phenomenal expression of incarnating spirit; +the organism of man, a tree, a plant, or an animal, being no +exception to this Divine, omnipresent law of creative life. + +To the true Alchemist there can be no mystery surrounding the +wonderful phenomena mentioned in the work we have quoted, in +plants extracting from the same rocks, soil, and air, qualities +so manifestly different--deadly poisons, healing balsams, and +pleasant aromas, or the reverse, from the same identical plant +foods. Nothing is more wonderful or mysterious, than, the same +alchemical processes, which, are hourly being enacted within our +own bodies. From the same breath of air and the same crust of +bread do we concoct the blood, the bile, the gastric juice, and +various other secretions; and distil the finer nervous fluids, +that go to build up and sustain the whole of our mental and +dynamic machinery. It is the same ancient story of the atoms; +each part and each function endowing the same inorganic chemicals +with their own spiritual, magnetic, and physical life-qualities, +by what appears, to the uninitiated observer, a miraculous +transmutation of matter, but which is, in reality, the evolution +of organic form from inorganic materials, in obedience to the +Divine law of spiritual progression. Who could stop with exact +science? For, when we come to consider the apparent mysteries of +life and growth by the aid of this alchemical light, the shadows +flee, and all the illusions of Nature's phenomenal kaleidoscope +vanish before the revelation of the underlying spiritual +realities. We know that the plant, being the physical expression +upon the material plane of a more interior life, endows its +outward atoms with their peculiar qualities. THESE QUALITIES ARE +NOT DRAWN DIRECTLY FROM THE SOIL; the soil only becoming the +medium for their complete or incomplete expression, as the case +may be; i.e., supplying the necessary inorganic atoms. Hence, the +deadly qualities of aconite, and the generous life-sustaining +qualities of the nutritious vegetable, BEING SPIRITUAL LIFE +ENDOWMENTS, conveyed to the material substance, abstracted from +the soil and withdrawn from the atmosphere, are no mystery; their +effect upon the human organism being exactly that, which is +produced by their spiritual affinity or antipathy, as the case +may be. And this also shows and explains, why purely inorganic +chemical atoms, though they be exactly the same as the organic +substances, from a strictly scientific standpoint, YET FAIL TO +SUPPORT LIFE, because such chemical equivalents lack the organic +spirituality of the interior life, which alone, gives them the +power and function to support the same. They fail to fulfill the +requirements of the alchemical law of life for the support of +life--in other words, biogenesis. + +And, too, this inorganic life may be parted from the plant or +vegetable, if it be too long severed from the medium which +transmits the spiritual life, from the inorganic world to that of +organic matter. Vegetables, fresh from the ground, or parent +stem, retain this life if at once prepared for food, if not +overcooked, which is so often ignorantly done. This is the secret +of sustenance from foods. Nature's perfected fruits and +vegetables are overflowing with the life-giving essences, and, if +eaten direct from the tree or parent stem, that life is not lost, +but transmitted to our organisms, and replenishes the wasting +system with a living life. Much less of such food is required to +completely satisfy and nourish the body than if the life had +partly departed or been destroyed. + +Briefly stated, then, everything within organic Nature is the +expressional symbolic manifestation of spirit; every form being a +congregation of innumerable atoms of life, revealing their +presence in material states; each organic form, or, rather, +organism, evolving under the central control of some dominating +Deific atom or soul, which, by virtue of past incarnations and +labors in its cycle of evolution, from the mineral up to man, has +achieved the royal prerogative to rule within its own state. Man +being the highest representative form--the grand finale in the +earthly drama--sums up and contains within himself everything +below, and THE GERMS OF EVERYTHING BEYOND, THIS STATE. He is +truly a microcosm, and represents in miniature the grand Cosmic +Man of the Heavens. Every living force beneath him corresponds to +some state, part, or function, which he has graduated through and +conquered, and which, in him, has now become embodied, as a part +of his universal kingdom. Consequently, all things are directly +related to him, in the grand universal unity of spiritual life. + +This cannot be realized and comprehended by the physical man, nor +conveyed to his outer senses by the physical sciences. He must +bring into active use the inner man, the real being, which +inhabits and controls the outer organism, and through its +instrumentality, understand the interior source and workings +behind the phenomena of manifested being. So we see that, exact +science cannot take us far, yet, it is a mighty factor, in the +evolution of the microcosm Man, and in consciously relating him +to the Infinite Macrocosm--God, Spirit, All. + + +CHAPTER VIII. ALCHEMY-PART II + +Paracelsus, the most celebrated of the alchemists of the Middle +Ages, thus mystically speaks of his art: + +"If I have manna in my constitution, I can attract manna from +heaven. Melissa is not only in the garden, but also in the air +and in heaven. Saturn is not only in the sky, but also deep in +the ocean and Earth. What is Venus but the artemisia that grows +in your garden, and what is iron but the planet Mars? That is to +say, Venus and Artemisia are both products of the same essence, +while Mars and iron are manifestations of the same cause. What is +the human body but a constellation of the same powers that formed +the stars in the sky? He who knows Mars knows the qualities of +iron, and he who knows what iron is knows the attributes of Mars. +What would become of your heart if there were no Sun in the +Universe? What would be the use of your 'Vasa Spermatica'[*] if +there were no Venus? To grasp the invisible elements, to attract +them by their material correspondences, to control, purify, and +transmute, them by the ever-moving powers of the living +spirit--this is true Alchemy." + +[*] Astral germs of subjective life forms:--it is the latent, "to +be". + + +Thus, in a very few simple words, we find this master of the art +revealing the whole arcana of that mysterious science, which has +for its chief object and goal, the discovery of the +"philosopher's stone," which confers upon its fortunate possessor +the blessings of immortal youth. Therefore, we cannot possibly do +better in the commencement of our present study than, to minutely +examine each particular sentence and endeavor to discover his +true meaning, which, like all mystical writing, is so apparent, +yet cunningly concealed, as to excite the student's admiration. + +"If I have manna in my constitution, I can attract manna from +Heaven." The manna here spoken of does not specify any particular +thing, but is of universal application, and is simply used as an +unknown quantity, like x, y, z in mathematics. But, ever since +the days of Paracelsus, half-initiated mystics and bookworm +occultists, have endeavored to discover what this manna really +was. Some, the more spiritual, were of the opinion that, it was +spiritual power, or purity of spirit; others imagined it to mean +special magnetic qualifications, similar in nature to the +so-called gifts of modern spiritualistic media. The concealment +of the truth is unique, and consists in its very simplicity; and, +when correctly expounded, should read: "I am the microcosm, and +all the visible and invisible universe dwells within me, so that +whatsoever power I have in my constitution, I can attract its +correspondence from Heaven." Paracelsus must have smiled to +himself when he wrote "If I have manna," etc., because his whole +writings strive to prove man the miniature of Deity. Further +along, he explains himself by pointing out the real Law of +Correspondence, thus: "Melissa is not only in the garden, but +also in the air, and in Heaven. Saturn is not only in the sky, +but also deep in the ocean, and Earth." The illustrations are +beautiful, The life of the plant, the "anima floralis," pervades +the atmosphere and the interior states of spiritual life, where +it becomes in the highest degree beautiful, and beneficial to the +soul. A reference upon this point to "The Light of Egypt" Vol., +I, may not be considered out of place. Upon page 74 it is +written: "The flower that blooms in beauty, breathing forth to +the air its fragrance, which is at once grateful to the senses +and stimulating to the nerves, is a perfect specimen of Nature's +faultless mediumship. The flower is a medium for the transmission +to the human body of those finer essences, and of THEIR SPIRITUAL +PORTION TO THE SOUL; for the aroma of the flower is spiritualized +to such a degree as to act upon the life currents of the system, +imparting to the spiritual body a nutriment of the finest +quality." + +Thus, here is where the knowledge of the alchemical attributes of +plants, as applicable to man, can be most beneficially utilized. +Plants and flowers, whose attributes and aromas harmonize with +the complex organism of man, should be selected for the house and +garden, for, they are mediums to transmit the finer essences and +aromas to the spiritual constitution of man; the plant to the +physical, and the aromas and essences of the flowers to the soul. + +Antipathies in plants and flowers would bring a similar evil +influence, as the discords of the antagonistic human magnetism. +It would not be so apparent, but more subtle, yet nevertheless +effective in result. + +Our attention is next drawn to the planet Saturn, which, we are +informed, is not only shining in his starry sphere of the +heavens, but is also buried in the ocean depths and embodied in +the stratas of the earth. It is almost needless to add that, our +author refers to those substances naturally Saturnine in their +quality of life and expression, such as lead, clay, and coal, +among the minerals, and various deadly plants among the flora, +the chief of which is the aconite or monkshood, so significant of +Saturn and the isolated, monkish hermit. After some repetition, +in order to impress the truth of correspondences, our author +exclaims: "What is the human body but a constellation of the same +powers that formed the stars in the sky?" Truly, what else? for, +"he who knows Mars knows the qualities of iron, and he who knows +what iron is knows the attributes of Mars." Could anything be +plainer? We think not. + +From the foregoing, which a long experience and much critical +investigation and research have demonstrated as true, we cannot +avoid the conclusion that Alchemy, equally as well as every other +science, religion, or system of philosophy formulated by man, +resolves itself, ultimately, in all its final conclusions, into +the one universal parent of all wisdom. + +ASTROLOGY, the Science of the Stars, in unison with the Science +of the Soul, was, and still is, the one sublime center of real +learning. It constituted the sacred fountain of living waters, +from whose placid depths there rayed forth the Divine revelations +of man, his whence, where, and whither; and under the careful +conservation of a long line of gifted seers, it shone forth to +the sons of men, as the sacred Hermetic light in the +Astro-Masonic wisdom of Egypt's ancient priesthood. + +It is not lost to us to-day. The same book lies open before us +that faced our ancient forefathers. It is standing out clear and +distinct, waiting to be read by the sons of men. We can learn its +language, and from its pages, we ourselves can read our relation +to God and our fellowman. Shall we not heed the whispering +intuitions of the soul and place ourselves in conscious rapport +with the whole? + +This sublime Book of Wisdom was written by God Himself, to convey +to His children the knowledge of His powers, attributes, and +relation to all creative life. We cannot see that Divine Spirit +which we call God. No; but as long as the finite form exists as +such, we will have the spirit's manifestations to learn from. +Never will the Book of God be closed to the searching eye of the +soul. There will always be presented to his vision lessons to +study, and practical experiments to perform, to lead the soul +into deeper mysteries. Until man fathoms his own universe, he +cannot understand God. "Know thyself" is as applicable to-day as +when the famous, immortal and mystic utterance was inscribed on +the porch of the temple at Delphi. + +Before this wonderful, divinely elaborated, but complex system +can be fully realized, it is necessary that the student should +comprehend, very distinctly, the two states of existence, the +internal and the external, and become familiar with the laws of +correspondences. And it seems strange that of all Sciences, that +of medicine should have so completely failed to grasp this living +truth, since every atom of medicine administered, invariably acts +upon this alchemical principle. When the human organism has +become discordant in some of its parts, it is because the +interstellar vibrations have aroused various states within the +human kingdom into a condition of rebellion against the supreme +will. Man's ignorance favors such seditious movements, and his +general habits and code of morals stimulate them to undue +activity. The final result is disease--disorganization of the +parts and functions, and those medicines corresponding TO THE +SAME FUNCTIONAL DEGREE OF LIFE WITHIN THE GRAND MAN, cure the +disorder, when administered properly and IN TIME, whereas, if +given to the perfectly healthy organism, THE ATOMS PRODUCE +SIMILAR SYMPTOMS TO THE DISEASES THEY ALLEVIATE, because it is +their mission to either subdue or be subdued, and when disease +prevails the medicinal atoms, acting in unison with the natural +parts and functions they affect, conquer or subdue the inharmony, +and vice versa, as before stated. In all cases of disease and +medicine, it is a simple question of A WAR BETWEEN THE ATOMS, +and, therefore, the most potential forces within Nature are +always at the command of the true Alchemist, because he knows bow +and when to select his fighting forces, and when to set them in +motion, for the best results. + +Hahnemann, the founder of the Homeopathic system, has approached +THE NEAREST to this alchemical truth, and as a consequence, we +find it is in actual practice, the most natural, scientific, and +successful system of medicine, yet given to the world; based, as +it is, upon the well-known law of affinites, "Similia similibus +curantur," "like cures like," being a very ancient axiom in the +astrological practice of physic. + +Bulwer Lytton, who had become thoroughly convinced of the great +value and importance of uniting ancient Alchemy with modern +medicine, makes the hero of his immortal story declare: "All that +we propose to do is this: To find out the secrets of the human +frame, to know why the parts ossify and the blood stagnates, and +to apply continual preventives to the effects of time. THIS IS +NOT MAGIC; IT IS THE ART OF MEDICINE, RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD." + +It is a fact that, the molecules of the body are all changed +within twelve months; that every cell in the human organism is +born and grows to maturity within that space of time. Nature is +absolutely impartial. She draws from the atmosphere that she may +reproduce a fac-simile of everything she finds upon the surface +of the body. So, if there be a sore, or festering ulcer, the +atoms which are thrown off attract similar atoms, so as to +reproduce the ulcer or sore, and thus prevent the disease from +getting well of itself until it has worn itself out. + +Further, every vein and canal throughout the entire body, from +youth to maturity, is being coated with carbonate of lime, or +lime in some form. The coating of the walls of the veins in such +a manner, prevents the free circulation of the living matter; +then, the real vitality of the food which we eat, is simply +passed off through the pores, or through the bowels, or through +the system, because it is unable to penetrate through the lime. + +If that prevention which produces old age can be attained, then +physical youth will continue. + +The first step to take is to dissolve the lime in the body. Drink +nothing but distilled water, in either tea, coffee, or any other +form, and drink freely of the sweet juices of the grape and +apple. + +The food that we eat contains lime in a living form, and it is +the living lime we need to build up the living bones, for the +lime and the magnesia that we take in the water is crystallized +dead mineral, possessing no responsibility of life, and the lime +in our food is quite sufficient for all purposes. For everything +we take in excess, Nature makes us pay the penalty. + +The first principle of long living is to keep all channels of the +body perfect and free from coatings of lime. + +The second is that of youthful ideals of the mind. The soul never +grows old. + +The third principle is dynamic breathing, which is storing up the +oxygen in sufficient quantities, to supply the tissues with +sufficient fuel, for combustion. + +These three principles, acting in unison, contain the true basis +of physical life and a means of long living. Old age is simply +the petrifaction of the body through lime, and the incorporating +of erroneous thoughts into the organism. + +It is the true Alchemy of human existence, and the preventives, +in each and every case must contain the spiritual correspondence +to the cause they seek to remedy; and, though the followers of +Hahnemann base the whole of their procedure of treatment upon +their master's fundamental law of "Similia similibus curantur," +yet, there may be a few rare cases wherein, this undeviating +method would not apply with the required effect. In such a case, +the Alchemist would resort to the well-known law of opposites, +and base his treatment upon the dogma of "Contraria contrariis +curantur," so long the pet theory of the Allopathic school. They +work upon the hypothesis that, like attracts like, and, if +disease exist, those elements must be administered to set up the +vibrations that will produce the polar opposite. If the body was +racked with pain, those medicines would not be given that would +create or increase similar conditions, but, their antipathy would +be introduced into the system or applied locally to extinguish +the foe. + +So long as mankind remain within the semicrystallized state of +soul development, so as to require the aid of external forces to +support the human throne within its earthly temple, mercenary +troops will exist to supply these supposed supports. + +Unquestionably, the astrological law is the true system of +medicine, which treats disease by sympathy or by antipathy, +according to the nature of the case, and the efficacy of the +remedies at hand. This method is the only natural one, and has +been thoroughly demonstrated by the numerous "provings of drugs" +under Hahnemann's law. + +Happily, the time is not far distant when, the incarnated spirit +will be able to use its own slumbering forces, and subdue all +suffering and symptoms of disease in their very first inception, +by virtue of its purer life and the dynamic potencies of its own +interior, spiritual thought. Already, mental therapeutics is +taking an advanced position among liberal, progressive minds, and +nothing demonstrates so clearly and forcibly the grand, +alchemical law of life-growth and decay, as the imponderable, +invisible forces, which, constitute the materia medica, or +remedial agents, of mental, magnetic, and spiritual healing. + +Perhaps the most recondite subject connected with the healing art +divine is, the modus operandi of medicinal action, upon the human +body. A subject so simple and self-evident to the Alchemist, +remains a profound mystery to the educated physician of the +medical college; so much so that, we are tempted to ask of them: +"Can you explain the modus operandi of drugs?" Dr. William Sharp, +one of the most advanced physicians of the Homeopathic school, in +one of his well- known "Essays on Medicine," says: "In respect to +the manner of action of drugs we are in total darkness, and we +are so blind that the darkness is not felt. KNOWLEDGE OF THIS +KIND CANNOT BE ATTAINED; it is labor lost and TIME wasted to go +in search of it. True, hypotheses may be easily conceived; so may +straws be gathered from the surface of the stream. But what are +either of them worth? There is this difference between +them--straws may amuse children, and hypotheses are sure to +mislead physicians." + +It is when the Occult Initiate observes to what helpless +conditions the practice of medicine has fallen, that, he would, +if be could with any possibility of success, implore the angelic +guardian of the human race to open the spiritual sight of men, +that they might see, as he sees, the Divine relationship, and +spiritual correspondence, of everything in the wide universe to +man. + +Nature's laws move slowly and imperceptibly, yet surely and +exact, and the time will certainly come when man will be forced +into consciousness of these laws, whether he will or no. Nature +is no respecter of persons, and those who will not move and +progress, in harmony with her laws of advancement, must, of +necessity, pass out with the old. + +Alchemy, as it relates to the healing art, is the most noble in +its object and beneficial in its effects, of all the many +subdivisions of the sciences, because, it alleviates the pains +and morbid afflictions of suffering humanity. We have given quite +sufficient of its astrological aspect in the second part of "The +Light of Egypt," Vol. I, wherein the four ancient elements are +translated into their chemical correspondences of oxygen, +hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon, which still constitute the four +primary elements of the most advanced chemistry to-day. They +enter more or less into every organic form and substance, which +is known, in various combinations and proportions. The human +organism is principally composed of them; so, likewise, is the +food that supports physical life, and the air we breathe is but +modifications of the same atoms. + +As man's constitution embraces a microscopic atom of all the +essences and elements, corresponding to the whole; so does the +air; and much, that we depend upon our food to supply, can be +extracted from the atmosphere by breathing. Every breath we +breathe is new life, or death. + +Herein is the secret of success or failure, in certain +localities, and under certain conditions. If we have iron within +us, could we extract or attract iron from Saturn's district? Or, +if the element within us could attract gold, could we obtain it +from the coal fields? + +Therefore, it is only natural that the medical remedies we employ +to restore the organism, when afflicted with disease, should +group themselves into similar correspondences, and so, in a +general sense, we find them; for we note that the brain, the +circulation, the lungs, and the stomach, are the four chief +citadels of the body; the heart, of course, representing the +center of circulation. And this also explains, further, if that +were necessary, why the principal remedies of the homeopathic +system are so speedy and direct in their action. The four +principal drugs, which stand as representatives of their class, +are aconite, belladonna, phosphorus, and pulsatilla. These +represent the quadrant, for light is not more nicely adjusted to +the eye, nor sound to the ear, than aconite to the circulation, +belladonna to the brain, phosphorus to the lungs, and pulsatilla +to the stomach; while ramifying in the seven directions indicated +by the seven primary planets, we find stimulants, tonics, +narcotics, nervines, alteratives, cathartics and diuretics, as +the natural material correspondences thereof. + +That we assign phosphorus to the lungs may appear startling to +the orthodox student, especially when, he calls to mind the fact +that phosphorus has long been recognized in medical science as a +brain food and medicine. Anticipating such mental questions, we +reply that in medicine, from the alchemical view, we are +occupying a wholly different standpoint; i.e., the power of +controlling the functional action of the body, in this view of +the case, and the fact that, the lungs and the brain are in the +most perfect affinity, there will remain no mystery upon the +subject. + +The Alchemy of stones and gems attracts our next attention. +Affinites and antipathies to the human constitution, are to be +found in these crystallized representatives of the subtle, +invisible influences emanating from our planetary system. They +are the mediums for the transmission of corresponding attributes +and influences of existing powers and potencies, and if carried +or worn upon the person, they will bring the person in direct +rapport with the invisible forces within the universal system. + +Here again Hahnemann's scientific philosophy would prove +effectual, that "Similia similibus curantur." Would the fiery +influence of a topaz attract much from the realms of a +chrysolite? Or, the crystallized, airy forces of a sapphire be a +suitable medium for the earthly forces of a jasper? + +Gems and stones are dead or living realities. They live, slumber +and die, and have their potent existence as do the organic forms +of matter. They are, usually, imbued with the vivifying spark of +Divinity, and shine forth and exert their influence through the +magical powers attracted to them from the forces of Nature. A +real, living entity abides within them that can be seen by the +clairvoyant vision, and to the trained student in Occult lore, +this entity can be made to become an obedient servant, giving +warning of the approach of danger, impressions of men and things, +and warding off discordant influences surrounding us; or that, +which we may contact from the magnetic and personal environments +in our relations in the social world; or that which may be +projected to us from the invisible realms of life. + +Think you the pryamids would be intact to-day, if the stones from +which they were built had been promiscuously selected? They were +chosen by Adepts in the knowledge of the Laws of Correspondence +and antipathy and affinity. The sphinx also stand as monuments to +the heights of wisdom that man can attain. + +Metals also can be followed out on the same lines as the gems and +stones. + +Much as we would like to continue, we are compelled to bring this +discourse to a close, even though in doing so we must of +necessity omit much of vital interest to the student. We will, +therefore, only add that the seven basic metals stand as the +crystallized representatives of their respective groups: Gold for +the Sun, Silver for the Moon, Tin for Jupiter, Copper for Venus, +Quicksilver for Mercury and Lead for Saturn. Each finds it own +sphere of action within the temporary abiding place of the human +soul on earth--the physical body. So, likewise, the twelve +constellations and their corresponding talismanic gems, +representing in their glittering array the anatomical Zodiac of +the human frame, and typifying the spiritual quality of the +atoms, there congregated, in every degree of life. These, and a +thousand other mysteries, had we the time, might be unfolded to +the student's view with considerable advantage, but we are +compelled to refrain. The philosopher's stone is near at hand. +Seek it not in remote spheres or distant parts of the earth, for +it is ever around you and within, and becomes the golden key of +true wisdom, which prepares the soul for its higher life and +brighter destiny. It is the still, small voice of the awakened +soul, that purges the conscience from suffering, and the +spiritual body from earthy dross. It is that, which treasures not +the corrupting, delusive wealth of Earth, nor the transient +powers of mammon, but garners the fruits which spring from the +pure life, and treasures the jewels of heaven. Vainly will you +seek for this stone of the wise philosopher amid the turmoils, +sufferings, and selfishness of life, unless you accept your +mission upon earth as a duty, delegated to the soul, from Heaven. +Eschew the evil thereof, and hold fast that which is good. To do +this, means to expand with the inward truth and become one of the +"pure in heart," in which blessed state, the magical white stone, +conveying A NEW NAME, reveals the living angel within, to the +outward man. Then, and then alone, doth he know the Adonai. + +Such are the Divine, spiritual principles upon which the higher +Alchemy of life is based. They seek only to establish a Divine, +conscious at-one-ment between the angel, the man, and the +universe, and to this end, we conclude with the words of the +immortal Paracelsus: + +"To grasp these invisible elements, to attract them by their +material correspondences, to control, purify, and transmute them +by the ever-moving powers of the living spirit, THIS IS TRUE +ALCHEMY." + + +CHAPTER IX. TALISMANS + +Words are the symbols of ideas, and bear the same correspondence +to the physical brain as matter does to spirit, a medium of +expression, and are subject to continual change in their +application and meaning, in exact proportion to the changing +mental and moral condition of the people. As the planet, as well +as man, is continually progressing, so must there be a higher and +nobler conception of ideas. Hence, words or expressions must +change, to convey the progressive spirit, that is constantly +taking place. Therefore, it is always interesting, as well as +valuable, for the Occult student to go to the root of each word +connected with his philosophy, in order to learn the real sense +in which the word was used by the ancients, from whom his mystic +lore has descended. The true meaning, as well as the words +themselves, have become as mystical as the lore itself. Hence, +each student must commence as a beginner in any foreign language, +which he does not at present understand. In following this method +of procedure he will, at least, escape the dense and interminable +confusion of modern opinions upon subjects of which the writers +thereof, are partially or wholly ignorant. + +No better illustration of this can be afforded than by the word +"Talisman," derived from the Greek verb "teleo," which means, +primarily, to accomplish, or bring into effect. But, in its real, +and therefore higher, sense, it means to dedicate, consecrate, +and initiate into the arcana of the temple mysteries. But, in the +present day it means a piece of imposture, connected with some +magical hocus pocus of the ignorant and superstitious mind, a +vulgar charm, that is supposed to bring the owner thereof some +material benefit, irrespective of his mental, magnetic, and moral +condition, "and," says the learned Webster, after describing his +idea of such things, "they consist of three sorts, astronomical, +magical and mixed." But in what sense the "astronomical" differed +from the "magical" we are not informed, nor is any light thrown +upon the peculiar nature of that class designated as "mixed." In +fact, the lexicographer so mixes up his definitions that, we are +unable to distinguish anything in particular, but his own +individual ignorance. + +So it has become, in every branch of learning. Words and their +meanings have become so mixed in their use and application, that, +the world is full of discords and misunderstandings, which lead +into dissensions and contention, among all schools of thought, +sects, and isms; and lastly, though not the least serious, it has +reached into the close relations of the human family. + +All writers and speakers, as well as the readers and listeners, +should acquaint themselves with the derivation and meaning of +words. + +The fact stands very clearly defined that, Talismans are confused +in the minds of the present generation with magical charms, which +depend for their effects, upon the power of the idea or thought, +which the formulating magician impresses upon the substance of +which they are composed. If the magical artist be expert, and +endowed with an exceedingly potent will, his charm may become +very powerful, when worn by the person for whom it was prepared. +But, if this one grand essential be lacking, no amount of +cabalistical figures and sacred names will have any effect, +because, there can be no potency in symbols apart from the ideas +and mental force they are capable of arousing in the mind of the +maker. Solomon's Seal is no more powerful, when drawn upon virgin +parchment, with a weak will, or in a mechanical state of mind, +than a child's innocent scribbling upon its slate. But, if the +artist realizes the mysteries symbolized by the interlacing +triangles, and can place his soul en rapport with the invisible +elements they outwardly represent; then, powerful effects are +often produced. + +I am sorry to say that, the knowledge of charms is not confined +to the creation of beneficial talismans. Its perversion has led +to the diabolical practices of the Voodo and Black Magician, +whose work is wholly, either for gain or revenge. Nothing, but +the most extreme selfishness lies beneath such immoral practices, +but, as there must be a light to reflect a shadow, so a charm +must follow a talisman. Magical charms, then, are simply natural +objects, possessing but little active virtue in themselves, but, +owing to the mediumistic nature of their substances, are endowed +with artificial powers, of temporary duration, by virtue of the +idea and thought impressed upon them, through the mental magic of +the maker; and in this sense, a charm must be clearly +distinguished from "teleo," the Talisman. The very names suggest +their difference, and, above all other men, students in Occultism +should strive to become thoroughly educated in the true sense of +the term, MEN OF LETTERS, by virtue of (as Ruskin calls it) "the +kingship of words." "Charm" is derived from the Latin "carmen," a +song that fascinates, and means to control by incantation, to +subdue; while Teleo concerns the secret powers and wisdom of +consecration and initiation. It is because of modern misuse of +antique terms that, we have considered this somewhat lengthy +explanation necessary, in order to clear away the accumulated +debris of the ages, from the true foundation of our present +study. + +A Talisman is a natural object, containing the elemental forces +of its own degree of life, in a state of intense activity, and +capable of responding to the corresponding quality of life, +OUTSIDE OF ITSELF, that emanates from the same spiritual state, +either by sympathetic vibration or antagonistic currents, the +nature, power, quality, and degree of life, which the various +natural objects represent, being a part of the temple curriculum +of initiation. Hence, the name, by which the latent power of +these natural objects became known, was in strict harmony with +the facts involved. + +In order to prevent any possible misconception upon the subject, +let us briefly restate the definition in a different way: A +Talisman is the exact antipodes of a charm. This latter is the +artful and temporary result of man's mental power; the former, +the natural production of universal Nature, and as permanent and +enduring as the substance of which it is composed, DURING THE +PRESENT CYCLE. And yet in some sense, it may be quite correct to +say that, a Talisman ACTS LIKE A CHARM, and vice versa, that +charms ACT LIKE A TALISMAN, providing that, the real vital +difference between them, is maintained in the statement. + +Now that we have our subject clearly defined, let us carefully +examine HOW AND IN WHAT SENSE a given natural object becomes +Talismanic, for it must appear self-evident to all that, one and +the same substance cannot constitute a Talisman for everyone, and +for everything. They must naturally differ, as widely in their +nature and quality, as mankind differ in physical, mental, moral, +ethical, and temperamental, development. And, yet, though, man +may so differ from his fellow man; the ignorant Esquimau, killing +seals in his kayak, may belong to the same spiritual quality of +life as the Harvard professor, who obtains his subsistence by +daily discourse upon the sublime harmony of the infinitely small +with the infinitely great, throughout the manifested universe of +matter, and wherever we find this KINSHIP of the spirit, we shall +find the same identical Talisman acting alike upon each, whenever +they shall come en rapport with it. Mental, moral, and physical +development, never alter the real nature of the internal man. +Culture only brings to the surface, into active use, the latent +possibilities lying concealed within the human soul. It only +allows him to exercise his functions upon different planes, and +with different effect. + +Every natural department of Nature corresponds to some peculiar +specific quality and degree of life. These have been divided, for +the sake of convenience, into four primary groups; and each group +again subdivided into three, corresponding to the four cardinal, +four succedent, and four cadent houses, of the astrological +chart; therefore, the twelve signs of the Zodiac; these +constituting the Cycle of Necessity within physical conditions, +wherein, the ever-measuring or decreeing tidal flow of life from +solar radiation throughout the year, represents the twelve groups +of humanity, of lower animated Nature, of vegetation, and +crystallized gems. Every human being is ushered into the world +under the direct influx of one or more of these celestial +divisions, and by virtue of the sign occupying the horizon at the +moment of birth, absorbs such influx, and becomes endowed with a +specific polarity, by virtue of which, lie ever afterward, during +such expression within physical conditions, inspires with every +breath, that specific life quality from the atmosphere, +corresponding to the same degree of the universal spirit. +Consequently, that gem, or those gems, representing and +corresponding to HIS HOUSE OF LIFE, become to him, a Talisman, +because of their relationship--their spiritual affinity. These +are all given in the second part of Vol. I. THE METALS never +become Talismanic, because of their comparatively negative degree +of life, and for this reason also, they make the most powerful +charms. Certain combinations of metals, and in proper +proportions, increase the potency and magnetic influence of a +charm; and here, too, the laws of antipathy and affinity come +into practical use. + +A true expert will know his metals, or metal, and his client, +before commencing his magical work. + +Those persons who derive most virtue from a Talisman are those +who belong to the most sensitive, or interior state, within such +degree of life, and who are dominated by one sign only. Thus, if +we find one sign occupying the whole of the House of Life, or +practically so, as when the first face of a sign ascends, we may +be sure, other things not interfering, that such a native will +receive great benefit from wearing its Talismanic gem. If a +person of good intellectual powers and sensitive spirituality, be +born when the lord of the ascendant occupies the RISING SIGN, as, +for instance, Mars in Aries, or Sun in Leo, we may be sure that, +the Talismanic gem, in their case, will be exceedingly powerful, +because, all the Astro-physical conditions are then most +favorable for the expression of natural forces, and, if worn +upon, or near that part of the body which the sign rules, the +power and influence is more powerful and beneficial. + +In wearing them, take them to you as a part of yourself, a part +of your higher self, a thing to be heeded, listened to and +obeyed. They will usually make their presence most pronounced +when something arises to disturb the harmonious vibrations that +naturally and quietly go on between the person and the +interstellar spaces above. They are like the sensor and motor +nerves--they never make their presence known, except, when danger +encroaches. + +Having explained in what sense gems become talismanic, we have +now to disclose the modus operandi--THE HOW. + +The gems contain the life quality of their own astral nature. +Man, as a higher expression, only, of the same universal biune +life, contains the same. Like two electric currents, MAN, THE +POSITIVE POLE (comparatively), attracts unto himself THE MINERAL +LIFE OF THE GEM, which thus, becomes the negative pole. A +complete circuit is formed and maintained, as long as they remain +in contact. Gems belonging to a different quality of life, not +being en rapport with his astral state, have no good effect, +because, no current flows between them. Thus, the Talisman acts +in unison with the psychic, or soul-principle, of man, aiding the +organism to sustain health, stimulating the mental perceptions, +and spiritual intuition, and affording in a remarkable manner, +many premonitions of coming danger, when the individual is +sufficiently sensitive to perceive them. And now, per contra, as +there are gems that act in sympathy with man, there must be, and +in fact are, gems that act upon contrary principles; i.e., +antagonistic, and these belong to purely antagonistic elements, +as Air to Earth and Fire to Water, unless the native be born +under BOTH forces, as Mars in Cancer rising, or the latter part +of one sign and nearly the whole of another of an opposite +nature, occupying the ascendant. Such natives are pure neutrals, +and such might wear the gems that belong to the most powerful +planet of the horoscope, or that triplicity holding the most +planets; then, they are usually combined, the planet and the +triplicity. + +There are, of course, innumerable substances, more or less, +capable of talismanic virtue to particular individuals. But those +gems, and similar ones, that are given in "The Light of Egypt," +Vol. I, are the most powerful. To these may be added the opal, +under Scorpio; the garnet, under Aries; and the turquoise, under +Cancer, when Saturn is therein; and the aquamarine, under Pisces; +and among the temporary talismans of vegetation we may add that, +the young shoots, bearing the flower and seed vessels, are the +portions of chief virtue, and the young shoots of trees. These +are often used in locating mines, wells, oils, etc., that lie +hidden beneath the surface of the earth, and in the hands of a +negative, sensitive person, seldom fail to reward the searcher +with success. These should always be gathered when their ruling +correspondences are rising, or, BETTER STILL, CULMINATING UPON +THE MERIDIAN. These will be explained in the chapter on The Magic +Wand. + +We have now reached the limits of our present study, and have +only to state that all gems, like the human organism, are in one +of three conditions: alive and conscious, asleep and UNCONSCIOUS, +or dead and powerless. These conditions can only be discovered, +in stones, by the trained lucid or the instructed neophyte. +Stones that are sleeping require to be awakened. This, also, can +only be done by the trained student or Adept. Those that are +dead, are USELESS as Talismans, no matter how beautiful they +appear as ornaments. + +Gems and stones are also sexed, and those who wear them would +receive the best effect if they should wear those of opposite +sex, although either is powerfully potent in their influence upon +the individual. How very ignorant the children of men are, of the +subtle, silent, yet obedient servants, that everywhere, surround +them. Here, again, that Divine spark, which lies embedded within +the crystallized forces of Nature, is exerting its subtle, +spiritual influence, in making man's very selfishness, and love +of ornament and show, a means, to bring forth these silent +monitors, knowing ere long that, their true power and potency +will be known, and consciously utilized by him, as potent factors +in his soul's evolvement and physical development. + +The twelve representative gems within the cold stratas of matter, +stand as the material representatives of their stellar +counterparts in the sky, and constitute the beautiful, +glittering, but crystallized, Zodiac of man's physical anatomy. + + +CHAPTER X. CEREMONIAL MAGIC + +The above title has been selected, chiefly, because, in most +works treating upon magic we find it wrongly used, and therefore, +take the opportunity of explaining the matter, for, there were no +such terms in the vocabulary of the ancient Magi. + +It is unfortunate, that, words of ancient origin are not more +carefully used, and that, we should attach so many different +meanings to the same word. The terms "ceremony" and "ceremonial" +are nothing more nor less than, what that eminent critic, John +Ruskin, would designate as "bastards of ignoble origin," which, +somehow or another, have usurped the places of "rite" and +"ritual." The word "rite" has descended to us from the Latin +"ritus" of our Roman ancestors, and they received it from the +more ancient "riti" of the Sanskrit, the Greek equivalent of +which is "reo," and means the method or order of service to the +gods, whereas, "ceremony" may mean anything and everything, from +the terms of a brutal prize fight to the conduct of divine +service within the church. But, no such chameleon-like definition +or construction can properly be placed upon the word "rite," for +it means distinctly, if it means anything at all, the serious +usage and sacred method of conducting service in honor of the +gods, or of superiors, and requires the attendance of the prophet +or priest, or some one duly qualified to fulfill such sacred +functions for the time being. The ritual of magic, then, is the +correct title of this present study, and as such, we shall, +henceforth, term it as we proceed with the course. + +Man is especially, and above all creatures, an organizing force, +and when to this fact, we add the most interior and powerful of +his sentimental instincts--veneration for the powers that be, and +for the higher, invisible forces of Nature, his "religiosity," as +it has been aptly termed, we cannot wonder that, the earliest +races of which we possess any record are chiefly distinguished +for their imposing and elaborate religious rites. In fact, it is +to the stupendous temples and a colossal sacerdotalism, that, we +are indebted for nine-tenths of the relics and records which we +possess of them. So true is this that, from what we have been +able to discover, we are quite justified in asserting that the +ancient races were, above all other things, a profoundly +religious people. The temple was the center around which revolved +all their genius and art, and the sacred edifice became their +grandest achievement in architecture, and its high priest the +most powerful individual in the state. In fact, it was in +consequence of the real power invested in such sacred office that +it was so intimately connected with the throne, and why royalty +so frequently belonged to the priesthood or exercised priestly +functions. And there can be no real doubt, but that, amongst the +pastoral and more spiritual races of Earth's earliest +inhabitants, the priest, by reason of his superior wisdom, was +the first law-giver; and, by virtue of his sanctity of person and +elevation of mind became their first, primitive king, a +patriarchal monarch, whose scepter and symbol of power was the +shepherd's peaceful crook; just as among the ruder nomads of the +inhospitable North, we find the greatest hunters invested with +the dignity of chief, whose significant symbol and scepter of +royalty, upon their Nimrod thrones, was the trusty, successful +spear. And the times in which we live have bad their full effect +upon these symbols, so significant of rule. The monarch has +transformed the spear into the less harmful mace, while the +Church has added an inch of iron to the crook. Therefore, the +former has become less war-like, and the latter less peaceful, +and, verily, in actual life we find them so, + +The patriarchal sire, head of the tribal household, was the +original priest; and the hearthstone the first altar around which +the family rites were performed; and from this pure and primitive +original have been evolved, through progressive ages, the stately +temple and the sacred person of the despotic pontiff; from the +sincere prayer the pure aspirations of the human heart and the +joyous offerings of fruits and flowers to the invisible powers +around them; and from the souls of their beloved ancestors has +arisen the costly and complicated ritual of theology. And, if the +theologians of to-day really knew the lost, secret meaning of +their complicated rituals, and the unseen powers lying behind +their external symbols, their anxieties for the continued life of +their dying creeds would be turned to new hopes and faith, which +could be demonstrated to their equally blind followers; that, +that which they were teaching they knew, and could practically +use the knowledge given forth in their sanctuaries; and, instead +of offering up their supplications to an imaginary, personal +Deity, their words, rites, and ceremonies, would take on the form +and power that such should command, and they would become truly, +what their title really means, a doctor of the soul. Then could +they, intelligently, lead and direct the souls of their followers +to the path of Christ (Truth), which leads up to salvation; not a +vicarious atonement, but gaining the at-one-ment through the +individual soul's development to a conscious relation, to that +Divine spirit, we call God, where it can say "I know." + +Out of those simple gifts, which were the spontaneous offerings +of loving remembrance and unselfish charity, have grown the +prayers, penances, sacrifices, and servile worship, of +sacerdotalism. Out of the paternal consideration and love of the +aged sire has evolved the haughty, chilling pride of the selfish, +isolated priest, and which reflects its baneful influence upon +the worshipers at their feet. They have also changed their once +sacred, faithful, and reverent, obedience into suspicion and +distrust, and with the educated to utter disgust. The light has +been extinguished, and priest and people alike are groping about +in darkness. + +It is strange, yea, passing strange, the amount of human +ignorance and folly that is revealed. When we look upon this +picture and then upon that, verily we cannot help but ask the +question, is mankind really progressing? We know that it is; we +are keenly alive to the truth that the Anthem of Creation sounds +out "Excelsior"--"move on," but how, and in what way +(SPIRITUALLY) we fail to comprehend. The cyclic development of +the human soul is an inscrutable mystery. + +All the considerations above presented must be thoroughly weighed +and understood in order to arrive at the true value of "the dogma +and ritual of high magic," as Eliphas Levi terms it; because, +amid the vast array of tinselled drapery, the outcome of man's +vain conceit and bombastic pride, we shall find very little that +can be considered as vital and really essential to the rites of +magic. The show, the drapery, the priestly ornaments and +instruments, are to the really spiritual Occultist, but, as +sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. That they had, and still +have, their legitimate uses, is true, but these uses do not +concern magic, per se, nor its manifold powers. They awed the +popular mind, and impressed upon the masses a due reverence for +the powers that be. They were instrumental in holding the +untrained passions of the common herd in check, by a wholesome +fear of summary vengeance from the gods, so that this pageantry +of magic, the outward priestly show, was more of a politic +development than a spiritual necessity, an astute but, +philosophical method of enabling the educated few to govern the +uneducated many. And it was only when the educational and +initiatory rites of the temple became corrupt, and the priest +became the persecuting ally of the king--when, in real fact, the +priest lost his spirituality in the desire for temporal power and +place, that the people began to disbelieve his professions and +rebel against his tyrannical control. + +The powers that be, are now wielding their sword of justice, and +unfurling the knowledge of freedom and truth to the aspiring mind +of man. He has begun to feel his bondage and the yoke of +oppression. The words of promise and love, instead of lifting him +up to the God he has been taught to worship, bow him down in +slavish obedience to his priest. Mankind cannot remain in this +mental and spiritual darkness much longer. Already I see the +break of day, the dawn of a new life, a new religion; or, rather, +the re-establishing of the true, which is as old as Time itself. +There is but One Law, One Principle, One Word, One Truth and One +God. + +The original requirements for the office of priest, and the rites +of magic, were, as shown, a primitive, i.e., pure mind; one that +had outgrown the lusts and passions of youth, a person of +responsibility and experience; and even to this day the priest of +the Roman Church is called by the familiar title of "father." And +as Nature does not alter her laws and requirements in obedience +to the moral development of the race, we may rest assured that +the same requirements, of ten thousand years ago, still hold good +to-day. You may enter your magic circle, drawn with prescribed +rites, and you may intone your consecrations and chant your +incantations; you may burn your incense in the brazen censer and +pose in your flowing, priestly robes; you may bear the sacred +pentacles of the spirit upon your breast and wave the magic sword +to the four quarters of the heavens; yea, you may even do +more--you may burn the secret sigil of the objurant spirit; and +yell your conjurations and exorcisms till you are black in the +face; but all in vain, my friend--all in vain. It will prove +nothing but vanity and vexation of spirit unless the inward self, +the soul, interblends with the outward Word, and contacting by +its own dynamic intensity-- the elemental vibrations of +Nature--arouses these spiritual forces to the extent of +responding to your call. When this can be done, but not until +then, will your magical incantations have any effect upon the +voiceless air. Not the priestly robes nor magic sword, not the +incantations, WRITTEN WORD, nor mystic circle, can produce +Nature's response to Occult rite; but the fire of the inward +spirit, the mental realization of each word and mystic sign, +combined with the conscious knowledge of your own Deific +powers--this, and this only, creates Nature's true magician. + +Who and where can such be found? Are they so few that the echo +answers back "Where and who?" Yet, there are many such upon the +Earth at the present time, but the present mental conditions +forbid them making their identity known. They would not be +recognized and accepted as the TRUE teachers, but reviled and +persecuted and dubbed as insane. But silently, they are sowing +the seed of truth that will spring up and bear fruit, where and +when least expected. + +Because evil is so active, truth is not lying dormant. The spirit +of God, that Divine spark of Deity within every human soul, never +sleeps, never rests. "On and upward" is its cry. "Omnia vincit +veritas." + +The grand sublimity of man's conception of at-one with the +Infinite Father, at-one with the limitless universe of being, +at-one with, and inheriting, all the sacred rights and +inalienable prerogatives of the ineffable Adonai of the deathless +soul, is the only test of man's qualification for the holy +office; for, as Bulwer Lytton has truthfully said, "the loving +throb of one great HUMAN HEART will baffle more fiends than all +the magicians' lore." So it is with the sacred ritual. One single +aspirational thought, clearly defined, outweighs all the priestly +trappings that the world has ever seen. + +The success of all incarnations depends upon the complete unison +of VOICE and MIND, the interblend of which, produces the dynamic +intonation, that chords with the inward rhythmic vibrations of +the soul. Once this magical, dynamic, vibration is produced, +there immediately springs into being the whole elemental world +belonging thereto, by correspondence. Vocalists who hold their +audiences spellbound do so by virtue of the magical vibrations +they produce, and are in reality practical, even though +unconscious, magicians. The same power, to a degree, lies in the +voice when speaking, the graceful movement of the hand when +obeying the will, and the eye rays forth the same dynamic power +and becomes magical in its effects. + +These powers are exercised more upon the physical plane, and no +better illustration can be given, than, the power man is able to +exert over the animal when gazing into its eyes. + +Here, as well as in incantations and invocations, within the +power of the will, lies the success or failure. + +At this point it may be asked, what, then, is the use of magical +rites, of symbols and priestly robes? We answer, in themselves +alone, nothing, absolutely nothing, except the facility and +convenience we derive from system, order and a code of procedure. +To this may be added the mental force and enthusiasm of soul +which such things inspire, just as men and women may feel more +dignified, artistic, and refined, when dressed in accordance with +their ideas. So may the average priest feel more priestly, holy; +and consequently, more powerful mentally; when arrayed in the +robes of his office and surrounded by the outward symbols of his +power and functions. But, in themselves alone, there is not, nor +can there be, any real virtue. The same may be said of the +incantations. The words used in their composition are the +hieroglyphics of mystical ideas. Therefore, the correct +pronunciation of the words or the grammatical construction of a +sentence is nothing, if the underlying idea is conceived in the +mind and responded to by the soul. Will and motive form the basis +of true magic. + +One word more and we have completed our subject. Magic swords, +rings, pentacles, and wands, may, and often are powerful magical +agents in the hands of the magician, by virtue of the power, or +charm, that is invested within them when properly prepared; but +apart from such preparation, by those who know, they are as +powerless as unintelligible incantations. + +All the foregoing are aids, but if physical manifestations of +magical forces be required, there must always be present the +necessary vital, magnetic pabulum, by means of which such +phenomena are made to transpire; and in every case, to be +successful, the assistance of a good natural magician, or seer, +is necessary; for without this essential element the whole art, +in its higher aspects, becomes abortive. + + +CHAPTER XI. THE MAGIC WAND + +This is the last lesson of our present course that requires a +clear definition of the terms employed in the title thereof, for +the twelfth, and final study is, perhaps, fortunate in having for +its title a word that has not, so far, been misused and distorted +from its original sense. + +The Magic Wand. The words savor of everything that the young tyro +in Occult art can picture to his mind; of the midnight magician +and his mysterious, if not diabolical, arts, muttering his +incantations, working his gruesome spells, and raising the +restless ghosts of the dead. Strange fancies, these, and yet, so +corrupt and ignorant have become the conceptions of the popular +mind regarding the once sacred Science of the Temple and the +psychological powers of Nature, that we very much question, if +the ideas above stated were not very similar to the originals of +each modern student, before he had become acquainted with the +deeper truths--the realities of Occult philosophy. + +We will commence our study by a careful investigation of the +original meaning of the words Magic Wand, since those who were +the masters and originators thereof, are far more likely to know +more about them than their degenerate offspring of a later age. +Few, comparatively, would believe that the words MAGIC, MASON, +and IMAGINATION, are the present unrelated descendants of the +same original conception--THE ROOT IDEA; but such is the case. +First, then, we will examine their modern meanings. Magic is the +unholy art of working secret spells, of using invisible powers, +and holding intercourse with the unseen world of ghosts and +demons, by means of enchantments. It also means the expert +deception of the senses by the tricks of a conjurer, SO-CALLED +hocus-pocus and fraud, and a magician is either an evil-minded, +superstitious mortal, fool enough to believe in charms, or an +expert pretender and imposter of the first water, who cheats and +deceives the people. A mason is the honorable designation of a +builder, who works in stone; metaphysically, a member of a semi- +secret society, whose sole advantage is social intercourse and +standing; who proclaim fraternity and universal brotherhood +theoretically and practice the reverse in reality; a man who apes +the Egyptian Mason, knows nothing in reality of Hiram, his +master; who knows nothing of the starry Solomon or his mystic +temple in the heavens, which Hiram built; and who misconceives +the import of the three villains, or assassins; and who, further, +knows nothing of that wonderful sprig of myrtle:--in short, a +Free Mason, speaking generally, is a man who delights in ideals, +social equality, secret fraternity, and plays at mysticism; who +parades on the Masonic stage and enacts a role he does not +understand. The first meaning, that of a builder, is the most +correct. Lastly, the imagination is the exercise of mental +imagery--the picturings of silent thought. + +And now we will proceed BACKWARDS. Imagination is from the word +"image," a form, a picture, and has descended to us from the +Latin "imago," which, in its turn, was derived from the old +Semitic root, "mag." Mason comes to us from the Latin "mass," +which means to mould and form, i.e., to build; and the word +"mass," through various transformations, was also derived from +the root-word "mag." Consequently, originally, there was but +little difference in the ancient idea of building pictures in the +mind and erecting the mental idea externally in stone. It is from +this fact, that, we have to-day Mental Masons, a la the secret +orders, and stone masons, who labor for wages. The Mental Masons +have merely lost the knowledge of their art. They should, by +rights, be as active and correspondingly useful to-day as their +more physical brothers, the masons of stone. + +This art would never have fallen into disgrace and disuse, if +their daily bread, or material accumulations, had depended upon +their efforts in building up the mental, moral, and spiritual +attainments, of each other, and bringing their knowledge into +more external use, by making the material edifice, the physical +body, a purer and more fitting temple, for the Divine soul. + +Magic comes from the Latin "magi" and the Greek word "magos," +which means wise, learned in the mysteries, and was the synonym +of wisdom. The initiated philosopher, the priest, and the wise +men, are all of them included in the "magi." Again, tracing this +word to its remote ancestor, we find it terminating in the same +Semitic root, "mag," but of this strange root no one was able to +say much, except that it seemed to belong to the Assyrian branch +of the great Semitic race. But quite recently, thanks to our +scientific explorers and archaeologists, versed in the mysterious +meaning of cuniform inscription; Assyrian scholars now inform us +that they have found the hoary, primitive original of it, of +magic, magi and imago, etc. It is from an old Akkadian word, +"imga," meaning wise, holy, and learned, and was used as the +distinguishing title of their wisest sages, priests, and +philosophers, who, as may be supposed, gradually formed a +peculiar caste, which merged into the ruling priestly order. The +Semites, who succeeded the old Akkadian race in the valley of the +Euphrates, as a mere matter of verbal convenience, transformed +many of the old Akkadian words to suit their own articulation, +and "imga" became "mag," and thus "magi." THE BLEND between the +Semetic and the older Akkadian race, produced, by fusion of +racial blood, the famed Chaldeans. So that we see how old are the +words which many of us daily use, but with different meaning. +Verily, it makes one feel, when be thinks of magic and its +origin, as though he were quite nearly related to the people who +honored King Sargon, the Wise, the earthly original of the mystic +Solomon of Biblical tradition. The term Wand is an old Saxon +word, which primarily signifies to set in motion, to move. From +this we derive our word wander, i.e., to roam, and wandering, +i.e., moving and continually restless. + +We have now the original, therefore real, meaning of the words +Magic Wand; thus an object that sets in motion the powers of the +magician, and the magician, an Initiate of the sacred rites--A +MASTER OF WISDOM, possessing all the resources that enable him TO +BUILD mould, and form; to create in fact, by virtue of his +knowledge of the secret powers of mental imagery and the +potential use of his own imagination. He is both Mental Mason and +learned philosopher. + +The student may doubtless ask, why all this care and labor +regarding mere definitions? We reply that, it is because, the +real meaning of the words we have purposely selected for the +title of our studies are, in themselves, a far better revelation +than we could possibly have written. Originally, ideas and words +were related as absolute expressions or correspondences, of each +other. This is not so now. As the different races became +interblended, the purity of both language and morals retrograded, +and the people grew more to the external. The intuitions and +spirit were compelled to retreat, giving place to only the +intellectual and mental. The blending of the languages gave birth +to many words wherein different meanings were transmitted; hence, +the trouble arising to-day over the numerous interpretations of a +single word. + +Hybrid races have no such thing as a pure language. Their ideas +and language, like their blood, is badly mixed up, confusing, and +unsatisfactory, so far as the real meaning of the words are +concerned. For this very reason we find so many different +meanings for the same word; and also for this reason, we cannot +formulate a legal enactment in the Anglo-Saxon tongue that, a +learned lawyer, versed in this senseless jugglery of words, +cannot demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the courts, means +something the very opposite of the real intentions-- the +spirit--which the framers thereof, intended it to convey. +Anciently, it required no artful cunning of the lawyer to +interpret the laws. The words had only one simple and obvious +meaning. If a language could be so constructed to-day, and the +antiquated precedents of the courts annihilated; the legal +profession would be exterminated inside of twelve months, and an +affliction removed from the people. + +The philosophy of the Magic Wand is this. It is a magnetic, +electric conductor for the magician's will. It directs the flow +of his thought and concentrates it upon a given point in space or +an object. It is, magically, what the sights of a rifle are to a +sportsman. It enables him to focus his powers with exact +precision upon the mark against which, or upon which, his will is +directed. Apart from this there is no power, per se, in the Wand +itself, any more than there is in a lightning conductor without +the electric storm. Ergo, the Wand is the conductor, in the +magician's hand, for the lightnings of the soul; and just as the +lightning rod is most useful and most powerful to protect, when +the storm is the strongest; so is the Wand most powerful in the +hands of the most potential magician. We can only transmit +through this Wand the degree of force we may happen to possess in +the soul. + +In a properly prepared Wand lies the most powerful weapon, to +protect or destroy, that can be placed within a magician's hands. +With his own spiritual force and knowledge, combined with the +magic power attached to the instrument, nothing can withstand its +power, when directed with a determined and powerful will. + +Many substances have been employed in the manufacture of these +Magic Wands. Metals or stones will not serve this purpose, unless +covered with some organic matter. In any case stones are +worthless. The very finest Wands are made from the live ivory of +a female elephant. A short Wand, twenty-one inches long, tipped +with gold at the largest end and silver or copper at the other, +is very powerful. Next to these costly articles are Wands with a +gold or copper core, a wire, in fact, cased with ebony, boxwood, +rosewood, cedar or sandalwood. English yew also serves the +purpose; so does almond wood. Simpler, less expensive, and almost +as effective, are Wands made of witch-hazel. In fact, apart from +the Wands of live ivory, I consider that witch-hazel is as +powerful as the golden Wand. Next in force to this witch-hazel +are the shoots of the almond tree, and, lastly, the peach and +swamp willow. + +The proper time to manufacture a Magic Wand is whenever you can +find the person who is able to do the work. But after it is +constructed it must be thoroughly magnetized, with proper +ceremony and aspiration, the first or the second full Moon after +the Sun enters Capricorn, at midnight, when the Moon will be +culminating in her own sign upon the mid-heaven. + +The best time TO CUT a shoot of witch-hazel or other material for +a Wand is the first full Moon after the Sun's entry into +Capricorn, at midnight, and then magnetize it upon the next full +Moon at the same hour. + +In conclusion, let us repeat that, the Magic Wand is but the +highly sensitive magical medium for transmitting and +concentrating the force of the learned magician; that it is +equally powerful under great excitement of mind, WHETHER USED +CONSCIOUSLY OR NOT. The stream of mental fire will go in the +direction the Wand happens to be pointed, and, therefore, should +never be in the hands of the wicked or foolish, any more than +firearms. It is potential or otherwise, in exact proportion to +the artist's wisdom and dynamic mentality, and is useless in the +hands of the idiotic or weak-minded. A Magic Wand requires brains +and vigorous mental force to make it effective, just as the steam +engine requires an apparatus for generating the steam, that moves +it. With a determined will, and a mental conception of one's +inward power, any man or woman can, by means of this sensitive +Wand, defy all the legionaries of Hell, and quickly disperse +every form of spiritual iniquity. + +The firearms which have become so intricate in their mechanism +and so destructive in their operations, are only a degeneration +of the Magic Wand. The first weapons of warfare and slaughter +were very crude and clumsy, then larger and more destructive, +until at last they have become as fine in texture and mechanical +genius, compared with their early brothers, as the Magic Wand is +to-day, above and beyond, the present weapons of warfare. At +last, the original mode of defense will be rediscovered and +become a utility in the hands of the majority of mankind. At the +same time, the mental and moral nature will be evolving into +better conditions, too, so that their use will not be given to +the ignorant and evildoers, but placed in charge of the educated, +those who are morally capable of leading and ruling. + +Yes, we are now stepping upon the plane of reason and intuition, +where right, not might, will prevail and rule the world. The +present mode of government and rule will be changed, and one of +humanitarian justice take its place. + +God hasten the Millenium. + + +THE BOOK WHICH IS CALLED THE TABLETS OF AETH + +THE SACRED SCROLL WHICH IS CALLED THE TABLETS OF AETH + +NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASTRAL RECORDS AND +DONE INTO A BOOK, + +By ZANONI + +TO WHICH IS ADDED A SERIES OF INTERPRETATIVE REFLECTIONS FOR THE +SPIRITUAL MEDITATION OF THE FAITHFUL. + +FOREWORD + + Thy temple is the arch Of yon unmeasured sky; + Thy Sabbath the stupendous march Of grand eternity. + +To my Brothers and Sisters of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor: + +GREETING--For some years it has been my desire to leave a +spiritual legacy to the many devoted friends and followers who +have braved so much amid present truth and error for my sake. + +In choosing the present work for such a purpose, I have had in +view the deeper spiritual needs of the soul--the prophetic +element of the interior spirit, which can best exalt itself +through the contemplation of Nature's arcane symbolism of the +starry heavens--not the material expression of the glittering +splendors of the midnight sky, but the spiritual soul-pictures of +those blazing systems that reveal to the seeing eye the shining +thrones of THE RULERS--the Powers that Be. + +Ever since the dawn of intellectual human life upon our Mother +Earth, long before the days of the cave man, or even the first +frost that heralded the coming of the Ice Age, souls have hoped +and hungered and souls have quailed and fallen in their struggles +with the mysteries of God. But ever and anon some bright flower +of the race has gained the spiritual victory. A Messianic soul +has responded to aspirations of a great-hearted, great-souled +woman, pregnant with spiritual yearnings beyond her race, and she +has unconsciously blessed her kind for the generations yet to +come with that incarnated mystery--THE SON OF GOD. Blessed, O +Woman, is thy patient mission on the earth, and transcendent are +the holy mysteries of thy maternity. Every human birth is a +Divine miracle in humanity, performed by the Motherhood of God. + +Hence it is that, from the earliest ages of life, triumphant +souls have stormed the gates of the sanctuary and penetrated +Nature's most occult mysteries and there recorded their spiritual +victories. Amid these sacred records lies one great scroll, that +none but the brightest and bravest may read. + +This sacred scroll, sealed with the seven mystic seals of the +heavens, contains The Tablets of Aeth, a record of the soul's +experiences upon the planes of both conscious and sub-conscious +life-spirit and matter, that are expressed in a series of +universal symbols, which manifest to the seer the processes of +creative life, of spiritual cause with material effect. And, +finally, the mystery of the seven vials and the seven stars of +Saint John are written therein; for the Tablets are the +hieroglyphic keys which unlock the realities of truth involved +within the unrealities of external life, and open up, to the +aspiring soul, inconceivable vistas of knowledge yet possible of +realization, within the Divine womb of the uncreated Aether. + +Myriads of exalted spirits, who have toiled for the treasure +which doth not corrupt, have added, and are adding, their portion +of personal conception to this universal conception of life, so +that the sacred symbols themselves, inscribed upon these +imperishable Tablets, ARE EVOLUTIONARY--are slowly unfolding +through the eons of time, and revealing wider and yet deeper +processes of the light, life, and love, of the Motherhood of God. + +Therefore, all Divine revelation of infinite truth is limited and +finite as to its conception, when revealed through a finite +capacity. All Divine truths are universal; all personal +conceptions of such truths are limited; hence springs the +unquenchable fountain of the ONE eternal truth, eternally +repeating itself, in cosmic as in human life, by the progressive +unfoldment of Nature's unlimited potentialities. + + "The outward doth from the inward roll, + And the inward dwells in the inmost soul." + + +The true poet is always a seer, and he might have added that the +INMOST SOUL is the uncreate, and, the yet uncreated itself, lies +buried in the ever eternal beyond; hence the immortality of the +human spirit. + +This sacred astral scroll, rightly and reverently studied by the +disciple of the higher law, becomes a boundless source of +knowledge and inspiration. There is no mood of the mind or +yearning of the soul that cannot be satisfied and refreshed from +this inexhaustible fountain of spiritual truth, no passion of the +human heart that cannot be eased of its burden and soothed of its +pain. Its spiritual refreshment falls like the dew from heaven +upon those who are weary and heavy laden with the trials and +sufferings of external life. + +Accept it, then, even as it is given unto you. My friends and +brethren, accept it as Zanoni's last work on earth--his legacy to +you, and may the spirit of the All-Father-Mother, the ineffable +spirit of Life, Light, and Love,--the Unknowable, whom men call +God, rest upon you and be with you now and forever. + + +INTRODUCTION + +TO THE BOOK WHICH IS CALLED "THE TABLETS OF AETH," WHEREIN ARE +DESCRIBED THE FORMULAS OF MEDITATION. + +THE FORMULAS OF MEDITATION, + +TO THE DRAGON, FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. + + "When first, a musing boy, I stood beside + Thy starlit shimmer, and asked my restless heart + What secrets Nature to the herd denied, + But might to earnest hierophant impart; + When lo! beside me, around and o'er, + Thought whispered, 'Arise, O seeker, and explore.' " + + +The Tablets of Aeth are the culminating expression of symbolical +ideas, and the studious meditation thereof is to be approached +and continued in this wise: + +First, commit to memory, as near as may be, all the ideas +involved in the astrological laws and principles laid down in +"The Science of the Stars," formulated in the second part of "The +Light of Egypt," Vol. I, especially as regards the symbolism +there given and manifestation thereof on the intellectual plane. +Mentally digest these aspects of truth most thoroughly. + +Second, carry forward the same course of mental training with +regard to the preceding chapters in this volume, from No. 1 to +No. 12. There are thirteen chapters, but No. 13, the last one, +being "The Penetralia," should not be included in this course, +but, rightly used, should be reserved as the last and final +revelation for spiritual contemplation. + +The twelve chapters just mentioned continue the great astral laws +given in "The Light of Egypt," Vol. I, from this plane to that of +the soul life of the human monad (both prior to and after human +incarnation). At this point we leave the finite and step into the +realms of the infinite. From the sphere of limitations which +surround the microcosm we enter the starlit path of the +macrocosm, and here, with the illimitable ocean of eternal life +sweeping onward before us, we hear the first strains of the Grand +March of the Universe burst forth from the organs of God! The +suns of creative life swell the infinite chorus of sound; +archangels swing their fiery batons to the march of the heavenly +host; and all earthly sound has ceased. We are absorbed in the +music of the spheres. + +We are now in the realm of universals, the domain of living +realities. The Tarot of Mother Nature revolves before us, +revealing her mystic meanings to the soul. All ideas are symbols, +and symbols are reservoirs for the conservation of thought. And +this is a very truth: Even so on earth as it is in heaven. + +The Tablets of Aeth, then, constitute a spiritual astrology, a +spiritual science of the stars, void of mathematics, yet +possessing all the exactitude of figures, constructed on the +principles of astronomy, yet expressed by the methods of the +Kabbalah. + +The transmission of spiritual truth from inward to outward form, +though differing according to the age in which it is expressed, +is ever the same in principle. And in the same way that the +sacred clavicula of Solomon became the Tarot of Bohemian gypsies, +so did the Tablets of Aeth manifest their mysteries in the starry +science of Chaldean lore. But there is this sharp line of +demarcation between them, namely, the Tablets of Aeth deal with +universal human life and nature, with infinite principles from +which all finite laws radiate. The Tablets of Aeth express and +symbolize the cause. All other mundane systems of occult study, +astronomical or metaphysical, are spirito-natural effects, the +individual intellectual fruits, gathered from the one universal +tree of knowledge. Uncreated, Unlimited Potentiality, is the one +impersonal truth shining forever in the Great White Light of God. +All the laws, powers, and principalities, manifested in the +moving Universe, are but the colored rays, blazing with glorious +life through the prisms of matter. + +Having stated thus much, the neophyte will perceive in what +meditative sphere of thought the Tablets may be used. The method +of study is, as shown, a purely synthetic deduction of human +ideas from spiritual symbols of universal principles. The Tablets +themselves constitute a grand arcane Tarot of man, God and the +universe, and of all the powers that dwell therein. They may be +studied singly, as, for instance, meditating upon some one great +universal idea or principle; or they may be studied in trines, +as they appear in each separate book, or chapter, or as squares, +like two, five, eight, eleven, or as the seal of two trines, one, +three, five, seven, nine, eleven, with No. twelve in the center, +as the revealer of the mystery. And, finally, they may be +contemplated as the Grand Oracle of Heaven, in the following +manner: + +Make a circle of the tablets, as you would with a pack of Tarot +cards, beginning with No. 1, on the eastern horizon, and +proceeding in the exact opposite order from a figure of the +heavens--No. 2, being on the Twelfth House, No. 3, on the +Eleventh, and {} on the M. C. of the figure, as in the +Astro-Masonic chart, given in the second part of "The Light of +Egypt," Vol. I, and so proceed with the rest of the twelve +tablets of the stars. This figure will represent the +potentialities of the macrocosm, the starry signs symbolizing the +possibilities of things past or to be, and the rulers the active +executors thereof. Study the figure in all its aspects as such, +first singly, tablet by tablet, then as a whole--the cosmos. +Next, place the ruler of any given tablet at the side of the +Mansion, and try to penetrate its various meanings, powers and +possibilities. Then proceed the same with a trine and a square, +and, last, with all the rulers, in the order of their celestial +lordship of the signs, each in his appointed place, as a whole +Arcana. + +In any grave crisis of mental or physical affairs, wherein +nations, and not individuals, are concerned, the tablets may be +used as a celestial scheme of the heavens, thus: Cast a figure of +the heavens for the Sun's first entry into the sign Aries at the +vernal equinox, calculated for the meridian of the capital city +of the country under consideration. Degrees and minutes are not +wanted. Then place the twelve tablets in place of signs, exactly +as they would occur in an astrological figure. Then place the +rulers of the Sun, Moon and planets therein (each having its own +tablet), as they are found to be situated in an ephemeris for the +time of the figure. This done, study the whole from a spiritual +standpoint as the causes and ultimates of the crisis, according +to astro laws. + +The foregoing simple directions will, I think, be sufficiently +plain for all purposes, never forgetting that this holy study is +not a system of divination, as commonly understood, but of Divine +revelation, in its highest and most holy religious sense. Long +study and most reverent meditation will be required to master +this mystery, and many errors of judgment will occur to the +beginner. + +The interpretative reflections are added for the purpose of +guiding and guarding the spiritually untrained seer from possible +error in fundamental conceptions only. They must not by any means +be taken as a complete revelation of the tablets, but only as a +series of skeleton keys by means of which all things may be +revealed to the earnest seeker thereof. To have added more than +is given would only be to defeat the object of this work. Each +seeker for the truth must excavate the mines of knowledge, and +dig further into this universal well of truth for himself. + +Remember that all interpretation will be personal to each +student. Of no one can it be affirmed, "thou hast said," and so +endeth the matter. Not so. To each, according to his talent, +shall the mysteries of the kingdom be revealed, to every one +according to his humility, spiritual light, and merit. But from +the arrogant, the selfish, and spiritually proud, shall all +things be taken away, and truth shroud herself in the veil of +delusion. In simplicity of mind, then, and purity of soul, +approach the Holy of Holies. "Suffer little children to come unto +Me," saith a messenger of the Most High, "for of such is the +Kingdom of Heaven." Verily, therefore, I say unto you, that not +until you can look upon all the works of Nature--beauty in her +nakedness or vice and crime in their repulsiveness, with pure +thought and holy feeling, can you inherit eternal life. + +Here endeth the introduction to the book which is called "The +Tablets of Aeth." + + +PART I + +OF THE TWELVE MANSIONS + +Here beginneth Chapter I of the Book which is called "The Tablets +of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the First Quadrant of the Twelve +Mansions. + + "I sent my soul through the invisible, + Some lesson of that after life to spell; + And by and by my soul returned to me + And answered, 'I, myself, am Heaven and Hell.' " + + + "The moving finger writes; and, having writ, + Moves on; nor all your piety nor wit + Shall lure it back to cancel half a line +, Nor all your tears wash out a word of it." + + +TABLET THE FIRST + +Aries + +SYMBOL + +A deep blue Sky, a blaze, as if something were about to rise. + +I + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FIRST + +The blush of dawn of a new life, all nature quivering with the +sense of coming, conscious life; Isis, vibrant with love of the +coming child, her bosom flushed in expectation of the little son +soon to breathe on her yearning breast. + +In this we trace the great lesson of preparation, of sending the +light before the form, of the prophecy before the fulfillment. +Dawn must precede sunrise. What you expect will be your destiny. + +It is the longing of centuries that incarnates a god, a real +Sun-God, whose vibrant love-life can thrill other lives into +prayer--aspiration, the struggle for eternal life. The dawn +represents the expectant maternity of Nature--God. + +O child of Adam! See that thou expecteth much, and that thy +aspirations are reflected in thy outward life. + + +TABLET THE SECOND + +Taurus + +SYMBOL + +A red sun on the horizon of an inky sea. + +II + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SECOND + +Nature has shown forth her glory, as brought forth by young +Horus, but her creative force is still unreflected. The sea is +black and inky. The Son of God is born, but the sea of human life +still remains unconscious, in primeval darkness. + +The angles of the Sun and the sea are not yet in right relation +to each other. A few, standing on the watch-towers of life, +seeing the red glow of the risen sun, call "Look!" But the +unfortunate ones in the outer darkness cry, as they beat their +breasts; "No! There is no light! You do but dream!" And yet the +Sun of Life has risen--the Divine light glows. + +O child of Adam! Remember that "In Him was life, and life was the +light of man, and the light shineth in the darkness, and the +darkness comprehended it not." + + +TABLET THE THIRD + +Gemini + +SYMBOL + +Two stars are rising at angles to each other and to the Polar +star, while eight stars shine faintly in the black space of +background. + +III + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE THIRD + +The Divine symbol of soul-matehood is here signified in the two +stars rising in the foreground; not only the soul-affinities of +humanity, but the eternal father-mother forces manifested in the +biune spirit of universal life and nature, the two great creative +powers, Life and Light, whose harmony creates love, attraction +and repulsion, and the straight lines of law and justice, which +blend in the spiral of mercy. + +The two stars are rising at an oblique angle to the pole-star, +the center around which, material things revolve. So, too, life +and love are balanced by the star of wisdom. Love in the spirit +is adaption to the environment in matter and providence in +universal life. The eight stars reveal the mystery of the +tablet--universal death, present with life, the final end of all +discord glimmers faintly afar off, and man questions the love of +God, seeing that all things pass away, not realizing that death +is the germinal promise of life, of transformation, of the +realization of unrealized hopes, of the union of loving hearts in +their starry pilgrimage back to the Father's home. + +O child of Adam! Listen unto the words of the Teacher: "I and the +Father are one." Suffer little children to come unto me, for of +such ii the Kingdom of Heaven." + + +PART I + +Here beginneth Chapter 2 of the Book which is called "The Tablets +of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the Second Quadrant of the +Twelve Mansions. + + "How they struggle in the immense Universe! + How they whirl and seek! + Innumerable souls, that all spring forth + From the vast world-soul. + They drop from planet to planet, + And in the abyss they weep + For their forgotten land. + These are thy tears, O Dionysus, + O Spirit vast, Divine One, Liberator. + Draw back thy daughters to the breast of light." + +"Ah, love! Could you and I with him conspire + To grasp this sorry scheme of things entire, + Would we not shatter it to bits? And then + Remould it nearer to the heart's desire." + + +TABLET THE FOURTH Cancer + +SYMBOL + +A woman's face unconscious, in trance, surrounded by clouds. + +IV + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FOURTH + +The dreaming woman, whose brooding thoughts shape the coming man. +The race is never any farther advanced than the average thought +of the woman. She is yet sleeping, knowing not her powers. So, +not until she awakes and recognizes herself as conceiving by the +Holy Ghost and the mother of the incarnate God, will that God be +brought forth unto universal knowledge. + +In this is the great lesson to woman: Ever remember thy creative +power as the mother of the humanity of the future. The sun in thy +mansion exerts its highest power. Awake, therefore, O soul, and +eclipse not its brightness with thy dreams of sublunary power. + +O child of Adam! Ever honor the womb that gave thee birth, and +know that all thy earthly greatness received its seed therefrom. +A fountain cannot rise higher than its source. + + +TABLET THE FIFTH + +Leo + +SYMBOL + +A man's arm, bent, exceedingly muscular, a knife in the hand, a +streak of lightning opposite the arm, which is defying the +lightning. + +V + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FIFTH + +Here we have the symbol of the incarnate fire of the spirit +defying the mere natural fire of the heavens. The woman sleeps +and broods and dreams, but the man she has brought forth is +awake, and bids defiance to the fiery forces of Nature. He has +armed himself with the keen knife of action, and with it has +conquered the forces of matter. He has harnessed the lightning, +and made the electric fluid his obedient slave. And thus has he +mastered all forces inferior to spirit--that spirit of conscious +life which is his birthright. + +The lesson to be gleaned from this is that, the kingdom of Nature +must be taken by storm. Not for rest, but for work, has Mother +Nature sent forth her man child; not for peace, but for battle; +not for inertia, but for effort. + +O child of Adam! Arm yourself with the sword--mayhap the sword of +affliction--and, gallantly raising the strong right ann aloft, +hurl defiance at the chaos of Nature, sure that the fire from the +Sun of the spirit is burning in every vein of that arm. + + +TABLET THE SIXTH + +Virgo + +SYMBOL + +A Lotus, rising from the water, coiled around its stem a snake, +whose efforts fail to reach the flower. + +VI + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SIXTH + +Here we have the sacred flower, symbol of the virgin soul, +uncontaminated by the snake of passion, which can only enfold the +body-- the stem; the snake of matter--of lust--of evil. But the +flower of the spirit--the soul--lifts its pure white petals +upward as an incense cup to the Sun of the Spirit. + +In this symbol read the great lesson of the experience of evil. +If, the flower of the soul, blossoms; the mud of the soil and the +snake of the passions are but the surroundings of its roots and +stem. Both are necessary for the perfection of the flower. The +roots sink deep into Mother Earth, and draw nourishment and life, +lifting matter upward, while the snake of passion becomes, under +another aspect, the serpent of wisdom. Coiled around the stem of +this life, it gives to the incarnated soul that wisdom which +later blossoms in the Seraph of the Sun spheres. + +O child of Adam! Take suffering, if it forge the sword of the +spirit. Take evil and passion, and turn them into deep lessons of +life, blossoming the evil into good, changing passion into +wisdom. Only "the pure in heart can see God." + + +PART I + +Here beginneth Chapter 3 of the Book which is called "The Tablets +of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the Third Quadrant of the Twelve +Mansions. + +"To know what really exists, one must cultivate silence with ones +self, for it is in silence that the eternal and unexpected +flowers open, which change their form and color according to the +soul in which they grow. Souls are weighed in silence, as gold +and silver are weighed in pure water." + +"The worldly hope men set their hearts upon turns to ashes; or it +prospers, and anon, like snow upon the desert's dusty face, +lighting a little hour or two, is gone." + + +TABLET THE SEVENTH + +Libra + +SYMBOL + +A crowned king, with a scythe raised in the air, looks closely at +two boys wrestling beneath him in a field of grain, a red poppy +below them. + +VII + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SEVENTH + +The symbol of Nature's eternal war for the impossible equilibrium +between spirit and matter; the symbol, also, of Time, which is +but the illusion in which eternity clothes itself; forever +putting on and forever putting off new garments of matter. The +crowned king is the victorious soul, waiting, with the scythe of +Time, to reap the harvest of the world; while incarnated man, as +represented in the wrestling youths, is struggling for that which +he did not produce, and which only death can reap. The poppy +reveals the secret of the illusions of Nature's master-showman. +All earthly things are unreal to the spirit, which is the only +real thing. Man's effort to hoard and save the things of this +world IS INJUSTICE TO OTHERS. The struggle is eternal, and no +matter how careful or cunning man is to monopolize either power, +truth or wealth, swift-footed time will readjust all things +without error. + +O child of Adam! "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, +where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through +and steal." + + +TABLET THE EIGHTH + +Scorpio + +SYMBOL + +A wide, and plain, on it a skeleton; a dull, grey sky, in which +an Eagle soars, full-fed, it seems, from the flesh of the +skeleton. + +VIII + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE EIGHTH + +A significant symbol to the seer, showing forth the two ultimates +of life and death, of earthly things and sex. Scorpio is both the +eagle of the spirit, soaring aloft, well fed with all that is +worth carrying away from the earth; and also the scorpion, whose +natural home is the desert. + +In sex, either way, life is given. Shall it be to your spirit +making fat and full your immortal self, or will the other +interpretation be yours? And will you leave yourself dead and +annihilated, a skeleton, to the Ego, the Divine spirit? For sex +is indeed the foundation of all. Raised to the region of Libra, +it is power and magnetism. To the bosom it is love; to the brain +it is enthusiasm. It is the promethian fire of life, the creative +force, giving vigor to whatever region to which it is raised; or, +lowered, to be spent with no returns, it debases and renders life +a desert of dry bones. + +O child of Adam! Reflect on the fall of man from spirit to +matter, and combine the wisdom of the serpent with the purity of +the dove, and "lest ye partake of the tree of life ye shall +surely die." + + +TABLET THE NINTH + +Saggitarius + +SYMBOL + +A child in a shell, holding in its hand a feathered lance, is +drawn by five stars, grouped in an under arc. + +IX + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE NINTH + +The symbol of the conscious soul. The shell is the body, drawn by +the five senses--stars--which form an under arc, to represent the +world of material things and our relation thereto. The child, +armed with the feathered lance, is the soul; riding thus, fully +armed, in the shell of the body, it realizes the duality of +truth; that all things are changeable; and that each thing is +true upon the plane of its manifestation, while an illusion to +that which is interior to its life, while the soul is in its +dream state. Sagittarius represents conservatism and the +permanence of crystallized institutions; but, when the spirit +awakes and bursts the shell of matter, the senses, instead of +being the guardians and jailors of its environment, become its +servants, and the means by which, united as the one Ego, +sense-perception, it races o'er the fields of Aeth--a being of +life and beauty, shining in the empyrean of God. + +O child of Adam! Ever remember that temperament and environment +constitute the north and south poles of human possibility, and +that ability, combined with opportunity, is the measure of +responsibility. + + +PART 1 + +Here beginneth Chapter 4 of the Book which is called--"The +Tablets of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the Fourth Quadrant of +the Twelve Mansions. + +"A hair, perhaps, divides the false and true. Yes, and a single +alif were the clue-- Could you but find it--to the treasure +house, And, peradventure, to THE MASTER, too. + +"Beware, O my son, of self-incense. It is the most dangerous on +account of its agreeable intoxication. * * * Learn, O my beloved, +that the light of Allah's truth will often penetrate an empty +head more easily than one too crammed with learning." + + +TABLET THE TENTH + +Capricorn + +A deep, black ground, o'er which shimmers a phosphorescent light; +at each side an aurora borealis rises, mountain like; above all, +a tiny star. + +X + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE TENTH + +Here is revealed the symbol of the messenger of the Most High. +The star hovers over the phosphorescent light cast on the +darkness as the spirit hovers over the blackness of matter. The +aurora borealis stands as the emblem for the magnetic attraction +of Earth on spirit, the Christ soon to be born in the manger of +the Goat; the descent of the Holy Ghost into material form, so +that heavenly truth may illumine the drear speculum of earthly +thought with the Divine iridescence of celestial light. It is the +lowest arc of the cycle that reveals the new birth of death unto +life--the divine egg of Brahma, containing the promise of the new +law: "Peace on Earth, good will towards men." + +O child of Adam! Be thou the star, and not a dweller of the outer +darkness, and "Let your light so shine before men, that, they may +see your good works." + + +TABLET THE ELEVENTH + +Aquarius + +SYMBOL + +A stormy sea is seen; above it the eight stars shine, brilliant +and clear. + +XI + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE ELEVENTH + +This tablet symbolizes the complete materialization of man--man, +perfect on the earth and the lord thereof, in so far as material +forces are concerned. The storm is the tempest of life, the whirl +of the elements of matter in their battle with the spirit. The +eight stars, brilliant now (for they are the same stars that were +dimly seen in Gemini), show that the conquest of matter is +complete, the great fall of spirit finished; the end of +involution. And this would bring stagnation and death, if peace +now ensued. The lesson taught is that, not in peace and rest can +the soul grow; but amidst the earthquakes that shake thrones, the +floods that overwhelm countries, the fires that reduce to ashes, +has the strong man-soul grown to its present state and power. So +fear not the storm, but the calm; not the unrest, but the quiet; +fear not the battle, but the ignoble peace of the coward. + +O child of Adam! The astral soul must learn to do and dare. Not +over the brave man's grave shall it be written, "Rest in peace," +but "I will arise, and go to my father." + + +TABLET THE TWELFTH + +Pisces + +SYMBOL + +A comet, beyond it infinite things, only dreamed of as yet, a +world floating in an ocean and in night, beneath are two hands +clasped palm to palm. + + +XII + +TABLET THE TWELFTH + +A REVELATION OF THE TO BE. The comet is the twelfth Avatar, the +herald, coming forth from the starry abyss of the infinite, +staying with us a little while, and then flashing on his shining +way to other worlds than ours, bearing THE DIVINE WORD from sun +to planet, as the fiery messenger of God. And here the soul may +well ask: "Who? Where? Whence and Whither?" For behold, he has +come, and gone, and + + "Earth could not answer; nor the seas that mourn In flowing +purple, of their Lord forlorn; Nor rolling Heaven, with all his +signs revealed And hidden by the sleeve of night and morn." + + +The world floating in the sea of the infinite and resting in +night shows the present state of humanity. But, "the blush of +dawn" is ready to gladden the soul, and the expectant seer, from +his lonely vigil on the hilltop, awaits the sunlight which will +soon flood the world anew. + +The two clasped hands point to many problems, chiefly soul- +matehood, the message of the starry messenger, universal +brotherhood, and the Father-Motherhood of God. + +O child of Adam! Watch and pray, that a voice of the silence may +speak unto you. + + +Here endeth the four Quadrants of the Tablets of the Twelve +Mansions, wherein are revealed the signs and symbols thereof, as +faithfully transcribed from the sacred roll in the astral records +and called "The Tablets of Aeth." + April, 1893. + + +PART II + +of The Book which is called + +THE TABLETS OF AETH OF THE TEN PLANETARY RULERS + + +PART II + +Here beginneth Chapter I of the Second Part of the Book which is +called "The Tablets of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the First +Trinity of the Planetary Rulers. + +"The human heart is the true temple of God; enter ye into your +temples and illumine them with good thoughts. The sacred vessels, +they are your hands and your eyes. Do I say that which is +agreeable to God--doing good to your neighbors? But, first +embellish wherein dwells He, who gave you life." ---- + +"How small soever your lamp be, never give away the oil which +feeds it, but only the light and flame, which crown it." + + +TABLET THE FIRST + +The Sun + +SYMBOL + +A flaming splendor, a center of light, radiating in all +directions. + +I + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FIRST + +The symbol of all created life, spiritual and material; of all +goodness, human or Divine; the center of all thought, from brutal +instinct to Deific wisdom; of all creations, from starry systems +to man, and from man back again to invisible gas; of all action, +from the imperceptible vibrations of nerve energy to the awful +destruction of worlds. All creative potency lies within a Sun +sphere. Light is life. The planets are but the offspring of light +and life. So in this symbol, we read the source of the human Ego, +of our own life. We are, as it were, the planets of the spiritual +Sun. Our souls are the attributes of the Sun, of the spiritual +Ego. Only from the Ego can we receive life eternal and make +immortality a fact. Obeying this spiritual life-force, the human +monad is but an attribute, a reflection, of the Divine Ego, and +if it fails to awake to a consciousness of this union, it withers +and dies like a flower plucked from the parent tree of life. + +O child of Adam, in reverence and awe do thou meditate upon this +Tablet, for it is a thing of beauty, a being of light, life and +love, manifesting its creative mission. It is the Vicegerent of +God, flaming forth His splendors in the sky. + + +TABLET THE SECOND + +Mercury + +SYMBOL + +An elephant, kneeling between two square columns; on one an +eagle, on the other a vulture. + +At the side a boy, with bow and arrows, standing in doubt which +to shoot. + +Below these a human face, composed of various flowers, whose +roots are snakes, a poppy, forming an eye, which winks. + + +II + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SECOND + +A vision revealing the earthly drama of the microcosm. The +elephant represents the highest expression of intelligence, minus +the spirit; kneeling between the square columns of matter, i.e., +guarded by them. The external mind is sleeping, or, at most, +dreaming of the things of the spirit. Above sleeping mind sit the +two birds, who represent spirit and matter, each waiting for the +slowly preparing feast. The boy, the soul with its weapons, has a +choice. Shall it be the sensuality of the flesh that he shall +destroy, or the possibilities of the spiritual life on earth. The +problem awaits solution. The eagle sits ready to bear aloft the +spirit of the sleeper. The vulture hopes for sleep to end in +death, that he may live upon the carrion thereof. The flowers of +the external mind have for their roots the snakes; and, in a +larger sense, the flowers of immortality have the serpent of +wisdom for their roots. And the poppy winks. It knows its own +power of illusion, and the double significance of the snake; the +necessity of evil in the evolution of good. It is the Tablet of +Wisdom. + + +O child of Adam! "Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless +as doves." + + +TABLET THE THIRD + +Venus + +SYMBOL + +An altar: on it two cups, one full, the other spilled; near them +two bleeding hearts, in one a snake, in the other a dagger. + +Above--clouds, from which comes a woman's face, a wreath in the +hand, coming out of the cloud; in the wreath an angel, going +upwards, with wings outspread. + +III + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE THIRD + +There is but one altar, but one blood of the sacrament in two +cups, but one flesh of the Christ--the Ego--in two hearts, two +experiences in love, ecstacy, and pain; two results of +experience, the serpent and the dagger, symbolizing wisdom and +affliction. Above the altar the divine woman holds the wreath +encircling the angel. The angel of immortal life rises from the +altar of sacrifice. Some of the wine is spilled as offering. The +cup that is filled is raised to "Ra." To serve at the altar of +love is the soul-mission of all, even as Christ served his +disciples. Each soul must find its own service, and then the +pilgrims of the Sun return to the mansions of the blessed. The +great mother-god, Venus, Urania, quivers and thrills as she holds +forth her offspring--the angel, the young Eros of life eternal. + +O child of Adam, this is the Tablet of Love. Meditate thereon, as +the last of the triune God. In this Tablet lies the secret of +suffering and pleasure. He who vibrates in pain will quiver in +ecstacy. Only those who have agonized in Hell can thrill in +Heaven. + + +PART II + +Here beginneth Chapter 2 of the Second Part of the Book which is +called "The Tablets of Aeth," wherein is transcribed the Second +Trinity of the Planetary Rulers. + + "Thou art called forth to this fair sacrifice + For a draught of milk; with the Maruts Come hither, O Agni! + + They who know the great sky, the Visve + Devas without guile; with those Maruts + Come hither, O Agni! + + They who are brilliant, of awful shape, + Powerful, and devourers of foes; with the + Maruts come hither, O Agni! + + They who in heaven are enthroned as gods, + In the light of the firmament; with the Maruts + Come hither, O Agni!" + +"Let us meditate on the adorable light of the Divine Rulers. May +it guide our intellects." + + +TABLET THE FOURTH + +The Moon + +SYMBOL + +NIGHT + +A wonderful spider's-web; + +The web glitters in the faint moonlight against a dark background +of blue; moon invisible; on the outside of web a star, in the +center a spot of light, underneath a coffin filled with stones. + +IV + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FOURTH + +The web of life has caught the monad of the soul and thus +incarnated the universe, for each soul incarnates its universe at +birth, each one's world being different, and peculiar unto +himself. At the first breath, the young child polarizes his +relations to stars and earth, and it is the affinity and +repulsion which make his life experience. And the stars weave the +web in their lines of sextile, square and trine, of opposition +and conjunction, thus enveloping the monad in the Circle of +Necessity. + +Outside the star of the spirit, the Ego, shines clear, free from +the entanglements of the web and unaffected by the magnetic +glamour of the Moon. And lo! the coffin is filled with stones, a +symbol of death and the Moon, which is but a casket of stones. +Therefore, little monad, caught in the tangle of the web of life +and the glamour of earthly things, take heart, for, beyond all, +is the star of your being. Call down the law of that star into +yourself, and the web is broken and waves its tattered shreds in +the breeze. The moonlight, the reflected light, pales as the +Star-Sun of your being rises, and the moonlight of Earth gives +place to the Sun-spheres of Ra. + +O child of Adam! The beginning of sorrow is the dawn of spiritual +life. The wise man rules the stars; the fools of Earth obey. + + +TABLET THE FIFTH + +Mars + +SYMBOL + +An immense helmet on pedestal, across which a streak of lightning +flashes; beside it a naked child painting pictures on the helmet; +beneath, a broken sword. + + +V + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE FIFTH + +Can greater irony be shown than in this astral symbol. Mars is +externally represented as a fierce warrior, awful to behold; the +reality, a little child, painting toy pictures on the helmet, too +big for his curly head. The lesson in this is indeed, that the +pen is mightier than the sword; that the big and blustering +helmet will become a plaything for the child. Soon, that the +sword of bloodshed, rape, and ruin, will be broken and war +relegated to the past, looked at, but, as pictures, painted with +hideous reality by the childhood of the race. + +The symbol also reveals the great executive forces of humanity, +the child. The soul can paint, execute its ideas, its hopes and +its fears in any color--the lurid red of blood, the black of +ignorance and crime, or in the living light of beauty. All the +same, it is the childhood of man painting its ideals in the +material world. + +O child of Adam, curb the anger of Mars, that thy painting may +set the dove at liberty. Let the magic of thy soul transform the +savage of the desert into the angel of mercy. + + +TABLET THE SIXTH + +Jupiter + +SYMBOL + +A cave in the mountain side; a face like the sphinx comes out of +the cave, there is a blackness behind it; it looks with upturned +head to a light that is way beyond; it is a face that means +something awful, a godlike defiance to the things that are. + +VI + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SIXTH + +Again we are impressed with the contrast of internal and external +things. Jupiter, the symbol of authority, conservatism, church, +and state, and the stability of human institutions, and the +things that are, as the things that are the best. But oh, how +widely different the internal, the real Jupiter, that governing +power of the spirit that hurls defiance at unjust authority, the +cruelty and tyranny of the world. The soul sees the light beyond, +and, emerging from the dark chasm of matter, knows the battle +that must be fought against wrong. It is the awful--yea, +terrible--symbol of defiance to gods and men who oppose its +onward, upward march to the shining goal of light. Make way, +then! Make way! For Earth has given birth to her giant son--the +Spirit. For, listen closely, my friend, to the axiom of +Immortality. What is soul? Not the spirit, mind you; not the +deathless Ego, of which you at present, perchance, know +absolutely nothing. Soul is mere memory; a scavenger in earthly +states; and a gleaner, a hired help, in the fields of heaven; and +to become immortal, there must be something more than soul as the +result. It must take such a vital interest in its Lord's work +that, finally it becomes too valuable to lose, and must be taken +into partnership, so to say. The Ego--Lord-- has found a valued +servant, a trusted steward, after much seeking, and at once +adopts it as its very own. And so the soul becomes heir to the +heavenly estate and receives the immortal, vital principle of +spiritual union, and awakes from the son of Earth a God-like +being, free from the shackles of Time--a dweller in eternity. The +soul must awake and realize the Deific atom around which it +revolves before it is too late. Unless this is so, the seed of +immortal life, sown in matter by the Ego, has not germinated, and +it returns unfruitful and dies--it is an abortion. Many, many +seeds never germinate. Many good orthodox, but animal-like lives, +live, move, and die,--yes, die in very truth. Would to God I +could make all mankind realize this awful, inconceivable +privilege of life, that, Jupiter-like, they would turn and face +the light. + +O child of Adam! "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye +of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of +God." + + +PART II + +Here beginneth Chapter 3 of the Second Part of the Book which is +called "The Tablets of Aeth," wherein the Third, and last, +Trinity of the Planetary Rulers is faithfully transcribed. + +"Thou hast entered the immeasurable regions. I am the Dweller of +the Threshold. What wouldst thou with me? * * * Dost thou fear +me? Am I not thy beloved? Is it not for me that thou bast +rendered up the delights of thy race? Wouldst thou be wise? Mine +is the wisdom of the countless ages. Kiss me, my mortal lover." + +"Thus man pursues his weary calling, And wrings the hard life +from the sky, While happiness unseen is falling Down from God's +bosom silently." + + +TABLET THE SEVENTH + +Saturn + +SYMBOL + +A human figure with a scepter of power, a being of light crowned +with flames. + + +VII + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE SEVENTH + +In the external we remember Saturn as an old man, and as a +skeleton with a scythe--as Time, in fact. But see, O immortal +soul, the real Saturn, as the Angel of Life, having from time +gathered the experiences which crown him with light, holding the +rod of power; the Christ born in the manger of Capricorn, the +Goat--life born of death; the conqueror of evil. He throws off +the mask of age, and divine youth beams on us. He doffs the +mantle of rags, and royal splendors clothe him. He lifts the +hood, and behold the crown. He raises the crutch, and lo! the rod +of power. He drops the scythe of death for the jewel of eternal +life. + + "Om Mani Padme Um." (Oh the jewel in the lotus.) + +O child of Adam! Meditate on the transmutations of life. Behold +the earthly miracle of the caterpillar and the butterfly, of the +toiling mortal and the transcendent God! + + +TABLET THE EIGHTH + +Uranus + +SYMBOL + +A human eye, from which darts lightning upon an ocean of matter. + + +VIII + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE EIGHTH + +The state of soul and spirit--penetration; the wonderful power of +soul-perception, which sheds its light on all visible things, +receiving their images and interpreting them into the spirit, the +all-seer--what does it not convey? The perception that can see +deep into your soul and see, as it were, the yet unborn thought; +that can distinguish the motive of action; that judges the +realities of your soul. Such is the Astral Uranian. For with us +all, are three planes of mind: The drift plane, the intellectual, +and the spiritual, or internal plane; and thought- reading can be +on one or all of these different states. But only the Uranian +seer can read the inmost mind, and so really know the +possibilities of your spirit. + +Imagine an image of soft wax, covered with a sensitive skin. All +impressions on the skin shape the plastic wax, but go no deeper-- +do not reach the soul. You can separate these impressions from +your real self, when calm and alone, and look upon emotion as a +surface play. But the tragedies of life strike deep. They affect +the soul, and go to the center of being. "Verbum sap." + +O child of Adam! Watch the tempest of life closely. The Ego may +sit calm amidst the storm, but, if that be stirred--BEWARE! The +God acts; the soul alone watches. + + +TABLET THE NINTH + +Neptune + +A Winged Globe. + +IX + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE NINTH + +An unknown quantity, a hope of progression, ideal love, and all +true mental and spiritual ideals; aspiration to become that which +we feel to be noble and true; the symbol of the monad, the soul +which, receiving its life from the Sun--the Ego--is constantly +revealing new forces and potencies of that God-life. Each soul's +Ego is its maker and God. The Ego is like the Deific potency of +the universe, unlimited in potential power, but limited by its +monad as to what will be evolved from its awful depth of being. +Deity progresses through its expressions of the cosmos. The Ego, +your God, finds progressive expression through you, through your +soul. That soul is not immortal that becomes separated from its +Ego--its God. So, soul, spread your spiritual wings and soar +upward. + +O child of Adam! Know these three things: Eternity is the creator +of the universal life; universal life creates the world, and the +world is the creator of time. And of these, the Universe is Life, +and the World is Mind, and Time is the Soul. The sum total of all +is Experience. And this is individual, conscious life--"Jacta est +alea" (the die is cast)--the wings are spread. + + +TABLET THE TENTH + +The Cypher - the unknown + +SYMBOL + +A Shining Nebulae; within it a dot, aimlessly wandering around an +unknown center. + +X + +REFLECTION + +TABLET THE TENTH + +The unknown in very truth. It is everything--it is also nothing. +Inconceivable visions arise within the mental universe, but +nothing assumes definite form. It is all that is past. It is +likewise everything that the future has in store. Amen. + +O child of Adam! "Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? +or loose the bands of Orion?" + + +PART III of The Book which is called THE TABLETS OF AETH + +OF THE TEN GREAT KABBALISTICAL POWERS or ANGELS OF THE UNIVERSE + +PART III + +VISION + +Each angel standing in front of the symbol is dimly outlined and +transparent. Through the angel's form is seen its symbol. + +FIRST +A luminous something, which gives the impression of sleep. + +SECOND +Something moving, like an ocean. + +THIRD +A storm, and lightning. + +FOURTH +A mist. + +FIFTH +An animal moving, resembling a turtle. + +SIXTH +A blue light; in the center a star with three points. + +SEVENTH +An expanse of water, a blue sky, a shining disk rising on the +horizon. + +EIGHTH +A lurid sky, like a red dawn; in the water floats an egg. + +NINTH +Five stars on a convex arc, like a rainbow; the shell of the egg +is broken and forms continents. + +TENTH +A man lying fast asleep under a magnificent palm tree, with his +face turned toward the horizon of the sea. + + +EXPLANATION + +Only the pure in heart can see God, and to those pure souls I +commend the following brief explanation of the Vision of the +Angels of Life, which I have here recorded for the benefit of all +whom it may now and hereafter concern. + +In the original Vision of the Tablets of Aeth a great circle was +seen, in the center a head, a faint shimmer above the head, as if +the light were about to dawn; a dull, lurid glow beneath, as if +of chaos or hell; the hair around the head like floating clouds, +the beard like strange cloud-streaks. Each sign of the Zodiac +surrounding the center head had within it a faintly seen face. +Beginning with the first, it became more and more distinct and +perfect with each sign until it evolved into godlike beauty in +Pisces. + +The symbolic planets were around the Zodiac, and beyond these, +making a third grand circle, were the ten Evolutionary Angels. +The vision is that of the evolution of all life, spiritual and +material. We gaze at the cosmic sex mystery, and the discerning +mind, the loving spirit, can read the correspondence of the great +sacred conjugal act of both man and God; of its heights, of its +depths, and of all that lies between. + +To aid in meditation on the bead at the center, herein is written +a vision, an experience of the soul in the Sleep of Sialam. + +The Hermetic brethren encircled my astral body, which was deeply +entranced. "From whence," the great question, quivered through my +inmost being. To answer that awful problem of the soul the +released spirit went on its fearsome journey, back through star +systems; back, back beyond all stars, back to the blackness of +nothing-- that awful nothing, whose outside ring vibrated with +fearful flames; the fiery cherubim, winged, taking all possible +shapes, and unformed living shapes. A human flamed and changed +and vanished. The tornado of whirling, flashing, chaotic life +swirled and drove through the darkness of chaos of nothing from +nothing--and that great, unknown abyss is God! But the life is +EVOLUTIONARY. + +Deity is progressive, so never can man cease to be. Never can he +return to that awful center of nothingness, or be absorbed within +the bosom of the unmanifested being. On, and on, and on, with +Deific power, God moves in ever-increasing whirls of evolution. + +Thus came the answer of the ages: "From primeval force, from the +mighty breath of unmanifested being, through every phase of +action and reaction, from the energies of storm and lightning, +from star-dust to sunlight, has come the spirit of man!" + +And the Astral Brethren understood. + + +THE TWO SEALS OF THE EARTH + +I SYMBOL + +A human being, with a flaming, burning heart. + +II SYMBOL + +A round disk inside a light, as from a sun, conceived, but not +seen. + +So here endeth the Book which is called "The Tablets of Aeth," +transcribed from the astral originals in the Year of Doom +MDCCCXCIII. + "Omnia Vincit Veritas." + +"THY KINGDOM COME." + (Zanoni) April, 1893 + + +CHAPTER XII + +PENETRALIA + +THE SECRET OF THE SOUL + +We have now arrived at our final study, which we have approached +step by step amid the labyrinth of the mysteries concealed +beneath the Veil of Isis. We stand at last upon the very +threshold of the sacred Adytum, the "Holy of Holies," from whence +proceeds our final revelation of that inmost conception of Man's +identity with his Creator--the Penetralia of his Being--the last +secret of the incarnated soul. + +The written word almost fails us--does fail in fact, when we come +to the difficult task of externalizing ideas, the sublimity of +which is so infinitely beyond the crystallized images of matter +that, they can only be realized in their true glory, when the +purified soul can view them from the ineffable heights of eternal +spirit. We are lost, dazed, at the brilliancy of the spiritual +imagery that opens out before us, in its fathomless stretch of +the eternities that are past, of the ever- imperishable present, +and the unborn eternities yet to be; all of them linked together +in one grand chain of spiritual relationship and deathless +identity; as Man, the Angel, God; and God, the Angel, Man; as the +triune Cycle of Being, within the incomprehensible Cycle of +Necessity; which constitutes Nature's cosmic university for the +complete graduation, education, and purification, of that +self-conscious, Deific atom of life, whose expression becomes the +human soul. Ah! my brothers could you, but for one single +instant, realize WHO you are, WHERE you are journeying, and WHAT +your final destiny, every earthly moment at your disposal would +be rightly used, and every hour considered too short for your +efforts to aid your fellow-man. Selfishness, wealth, and power, +would be so utterly contemptible in your sight that their +possession would be considered a fearful affliction and a curse, +the moment they exceeded the comfortable requirements of mundane +existence. + +Leave self and the world behind you for the present, and, for the +moment, leave your life, with its manifold vanities, in the outer +court, and together let us cross the threshold and enter the door +of the Temple. There! At last we have entered the Sacred +Sanctuary, my brother, and we stand face to face with the +imperishable truth of our being--the truth which makes us free, +the truth which must ultimately prevail, by virtue of its own +inherent Divinity; and we realize Man as he really is, not as he +outwardly seems to be. We view him as a molecule, composed of a +congregation of separate atoms, all of them held in their places +by the centripetal force of the central human atom of life. And +yet, small as he is, small as his kingdom is, compared with the +mighty creation of which he is a part, he possesses all the +inherent qualities of the whole. This, then, is our first +conception--Man, is a microcosmic molecule, an atom of divine +life. + +The scene changes within the chamber, and upon the shimmering, +luminous veil, yet before us, we view the large and mighty planet +called the Earth. Not as a revolving satellite of the Sun, but as +she really is, a vital organ of the macrocosm, the stellar womb +of the solar system, the matrix which produces the material +organic form of humanity. When the Earth was without form and +void," as we are informed in the mystical language of Genesis, +the human soul had not yet reached the state, or grade, in the +celestial university that desired the Earth and its temporary +illusions. Hence this state was void, an unborn idea, the To Be, +and darkness, symbolical of complete lack of life and +intelligence, "was upon the face of the deep," silent space. + +Again the scene changes, and one by one the numberless planets, +planetoids, moons, meteors, comets, and other attendant bodies, +pass before the eye of the soul as we gaze upon the curtain of +this Sacred Penetralia, each orb belonging to some portion of the +Astral Man, each great planet constituting some vital function of +the macrocosmic organism, and conferring those qualities upon +each and every single atom pertaining to that degree of life, so +that the solar system becomes individualized as a grand cosmic +organism, its attendant satellites constituting its vital organs, +and the shining Zodiac its outward form. So, also, each planet is +a living, cosmic individual, intensely alive; living, moving, +breathing, and bringing forth its offspring of like substance, +matter, in obedience to the potential demand of incarnating +spirit. The Sun is alive, glowing with life, and constitutes the +heart and arterial center of all the circulating fluids of the +stellar anatomy. + +Scientists may continue to predict, as they have been predicting, +the day when solar radiation will cease, but their predictions +will prove as worthless as the sighing of the summer wind, so far +as reality is concerned. "It is an incomprehensible mystery to +science," says Sir Robert Ball, in his "Story of the Heavens," +"how the Sun has been able to maintain its heat with such +regularity in the past, for there has been no appreciable change +in the Earth's temperature for thousands of years." What it is +to-day it was ten thousand years ago--yea, Sir Robert Ball, and +will be in ten thousand years to come. You may wonder, and the +Royal College may wonder, but in the meantime the mighty, +pulsating Sun continues beating out its rhythmic vibrations of +spiritual and dynamic life--continues, and will continue, to send +the exhilarating current throughout every atom, to the remotest +part of his solar dominions, and the same current RETURNS TO HIM +AGAIN, UNDIMINISHED, for the purification which his glowing, +transmuting photosphere alone, can give, to be sent forward +again, upon its mission of light, life, and love, around the +vital, organic worlds of the astral organism. There is nothing +lost, no radiation of energy dispersed upon the unformed, +lifeless ether. From the radiating solar focus of Divinity it +comes, and to him, undiminished it returns, and so on forever and +ever; until the last Deific atom has won its laggard way back to +the shining throne of God. + +The Sun breathes. The pulsating process of dynamic respiration, +eternally repeated during the grand period of a solar lifetime, +renews its vital energies, and supplies itself, with the full +abundance of the ever-living spirit, transmitted from the +shoreless ether in which it lives. It needs no other food, except +the magnetic nutriment it receives from each vital organ, or +planet, in return for the electrical life current it transmits to +them. Just as the human lungs inflate themselves with the vital +atmosphere, (which is only the ether, dynamically diluted by the +Earth to harmonize with our conditions), to oxygenate the blood +and add fresh fuel to the physical furnace, or supply finer +essences to the nervous centers. Just as the human heart, with +its continual, rhythmic pulsations, propels forth the circulating +fluid to every part of the human frame; so does the central heart +and lungs of the Grander Man of the Skies, (the Sun) send forth +its vitalizing energy to every part of the universe. + +Such are the crowding thoughts, born of interior knowledge, that +flood the mind as we view these sacred revelations within the +sacred chamber of the soul. As yet, we are gazing upon the +undulating flow of the astral light. We yearn within our utmost +being to become the center of the Penetralia and gaze upon the +glorious radiance of the Adonai, from whose ineffable presence we +are only screened by the last shining veil of semi-transparent +matter, that waves and trembles with every spiritual aspiration. +The soul sends forth its pleading cry for light: "Who and what is +God?" Faintly, as the distant vesper sounds upon the cooling eve, +comes the answer: "Who and what art thou? What canst thou see? +What delectable blessing does Nature vouchsafe to the pure in +heart?" We tremble with the awful, yet thrilling, revelation. We +know dimly, yet fail to realize in our outward consciousness the +full import thereof. We realize wherein the mistaken selfhood +hath become the only begotten of the Father, but the revelation +is too much, and too little. We know that, faint as the voice +seemed to the yet unprepared soul, an echo only, IT WAS THE VOICE +OF THE ADONAI BEHIND THE VEIL. And now we crave the knowledge of +the Where and Whither. + +Again, we see the Earth as the vital function of the +interplanetary being. It is composed of substance termed matter, +which substance is the aggregation of countless atoms, which +science has not, and never can, resolve into their individual +selves. These atoms are rings of the atomless ether, which, thus +differentiated from the formless ether, become centers of force, +the center of such force being a vacuum within the atomic ring--a +center so small that a microscope with lens one thousand times as +powerful as the most perfect modern instrument would fail to +reveal it. These atoms form systems, under the control of another +apparent vacuum; or, rather, this vacuum seems to be the focus, +or center, about which they revolve. THIS SYSTEM CONSTITUTES A +SCIENTIFIC MOLECULE OF MATTER, and, in response to the +innumerable vibrations, they assume different forms or +dimensions, and become, indifferently, molecules of oxygen, +hydrogen, nitrogen, or carbon, as the case may be, all of which +are but different modes of motion of the same primitive atoms, +there being in Nature but three things--Ether, Intelligence, and +Motion. What Ether is, no one knows. We call it the formless +spirit, the unmanifest, etc. But, there can be no doubt but, that +Motion is the product of Intelligence, since we never see Motion +but as the manifestation of evolution, and this is the expression +of Mind. Therefore, we have a duality--Ether and Intelligence; +one the living spirit, the other the eternal substance for its +manifestation. + +Every molecule of matter is the outward form, the center of +which, is the incarnating spirit, in some degree of progress. +Man's physical organism is a system of life and development for +countless billions of them. So the Earth, in its functional +expression as the womb of Nature for the outward expression of +Man, is only so in a material sense. HE IS PRIOR TO THE PLANET. +He (Man) is only the offspring of the planet by virtue of his +material body being a part of the substance of the Earth. This +life is a stage, only, of his material journey; and, just as +Man's body is continually throwing off useless dead matter and +replacing the same with new life, so, too, the countless organic +forms of Earth are hourly returning to the ground from which they +sprang, and new forms, rising from the same dust, are taking +their places. + +Here, then, is the sum total: First is revealed to us the grand +Astral Man, the Zodiac being the outward idea or form, the Sun +and his system the vital functions thereof. The Earth, apart from +its functional expression or place, is also an individual. Man, +apart from forming a molecule of the planetary womb, by +comparison, is also an individual. And, lastly, every molecule of +Man's organism is also, in reality, an individual, and small only +by comparison with the human frame. And as there are the high +Solar Archangels of the Sun, and a chief amongst these seated +upon his throne of fire, so there is an Archangelic Chief of the +Earth, surrounded by descending degrees of wisdom and power to +Man, who also, in his turn, stands as the Deific center and chief +of his being, his soul being the sphere of consciousness, which, +when united to the feminine soul, constitutes the Angel of Life, +Eternal. Down still we go, and find that this Divine scale of +life and being is, from the lowly molecule, system upon system +climbing, sphere upon sphere, upward and onward, forever, +evermore, and all eternity cannot bring nearer the end of Man's +glorious immortality. + +In the full revelation of this divine scheme of creation, so full +of light, life, love, joy and harmony, a scheme void of death and +annihilation, the mind once more reflects upon the physical +illusions of slowly advancing scientific thought. Camille +Flammarion, the great psychomaterialist of France, has painted, +in his various novels, a lurid, almost horrible, picture of what +the mighty universe must become from the logical deductions of +his own school of thought; a school which would be best named as +transcendental materialism. According to this conception, +"thousands, aye, millions of worlds are rushing through space, +inert, frozen, and dead. Suns have cooled down and ceased to give +forth the life-sustaining element of light, but have still +retained their mighty attraction upon their attendant planets, +according to the laws of gravity, by virtue of their material +mass, and thus hold their planetary offspring in the eternal, +cold, icy grasp of death. Our Sun, too, is cooling fast; the +Earth has already lost a great portion of her own internal heat. +She has passed her prime of life, and death--cold, icy death--has +already begun to encroach upon her extremities. The South pole +(the feet) is now practically lifeless in one perpetual covering +of ice. So, too, her head; her locks are the white of perpetual +snow. No longer has she the blush and beauty of youth, no longer +adorned with the healthy covering of verdue which youthfulness +gives, and as our geologists prove was once the case. So that, +although the time may still be long, according to our reckoning +of years, it is only a brief moment in eternity when this fair +Earth, and also the beauteous splendor of the silent stars, will +be locked forever in darkness, and the final sleep of doom." If +this be so, we ask of the inmost soul, if life be but the fitful +awakenings of the indestructible spirit, ebbing and flowing in +response to the rise and fall of Nature's cosmic barometer and +the transmutations of matter; if life is, in reality, but a brief +and passing moment, eternally repeated, from the flush of youth, +"the gilded salon to the bier and the shroud, then why, O why +should the spirit of mortal be proud?" Why aspire to penetrate +the inward realities of life and enter the Holy of Holies--to +seek and find out God? As the rushing torrent of this thought +swept o'er the mental chambers of the soul and saturated the +spirit with its icy sting, as it lay still chained within the +prison house of matter, the higher self rose, sublime in its +grandeur, and consciousness of divine relationship, and, in the +last earthly appeal for light, for divine truth, as to Man and +his immortality, it turned in reverence and awe before the still, +shimmering veil of the sacred Penetralia. The trial had come, the +crucial test, whether of life or death, the final revelation to +Man. In purity of heart and humility of soul we await in +agonizing suspense. There is a thrilling sensation, as though of +ten thousand electric currents consuming the frame, and a swaying +to and fro, as if drifting upon an ocean of fire; then a dead +silence, so profound that whole eternities seem to pass, without +either beginning or end. And the sight of the inward spirit is +opened slowly. Who? Where? What? For the shadows have fled, the +luminous curtain fades, is gone, and flashing before the inward +sight stands the ineffable Adonai. It is I--YOU! There is no God +but this, and in one moment the interior consciousness becomes +at-one-with-self, God, and from that inconceivable height of +profound vision we again look upon Nature. Behold Sun, Moon and +planets in all the original magnificence of their nebulous +luminosity; from nebulous rings we proceed, stage after stage, +each producing its own degrees of life. On, on we pass the ages, +the geological cycles of inconceivable duration in time, but only +a mere instant in eternity; and on and on, as the changes roll, +until we see Earth as she is now; still on, at the ever-urging +desire of the triumphant Soul, and a remarkable change is +apparent. From forces, at present latent, there comes a change; +and, instead of so-called physical; electrical races have +superceded the present humanity. Crystallization has ceased; and +all things become lighter in density and more ethereal in nature; +AND THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH GROWS LESS. Nearer and nearer shines +the mighty Sun; first Vulcan, then the swift messenger of the +gods are indrawn within the solar vortex, each absorption +producing a cataclysmic change upon our Earth. Then comes the +turn of Venus, while slowly and surely the orbit of the Earth +contracts, and nearer shines the Sun. And, finally, the beautiful +Earth, her mission over, the last atom of life beyond her rule, +inward she sweeps, and is lost in the mighty ocean of fire as a +stone is lost in the lake. Verily is the word of prophecy a +literal truth: "The Earth shall be destroyed with fire." And so +on with the rest, each planet in its proper turn fulfilling the +functions at present performed by the Earth, each becoming the +grand theater of material and ethereal life, and the cometary +bodies, to-day chasing unknown orbits in the realms of ether, +gradually fall into line when their erratic cycle is ended, +taking the places of the present outermost planets. + +No such thing as death, no such thing as the dark silence of +eternal night, for any organic creation of the Most High. From +the Sun they come, and unto the Sun each must ultimately return, +even as the body of Man, coming from the dust of Earth, must also +return thereto, to be taken up in new forms and furnish substance +for other degrees of life. And thus will it be, until the Sun, in +its mighty solar heavens of purified spiritual life, will form +the last, the final battle ground of matter, receiving ITS NEW +LIFE FROM A GREATER CENTER THAN ITSELF. A glorious solar world, +well typified in the last Battle of the Gods, and the new +Earth--a World whereon the Angels tread in superlatively +beautiful forms, clothed with the ideals and emanations of their +own divine purity--Souls clothed in Air, treading the ethereal +Realms of Light, as the children of God, and the inheritors of +the Kingdom of Heaven. + +Must the searching eye of the Soul seek further? Must the +insatiable thirst of the Spirit launch out upon the trackless +infinities of the yet To Be? Must it still penetrate further in +the profound beyond, where time ceases to be, where the past, +present, and the future, are forever unknown, but exist only as +the Deific consciousness of the eternal Now? No. The Soul at last +rests satisfied. The final revelation is over. + +My brother, we have done; and, in closing, have only to add that, +not until the speculating philosophy of earthly schools blends +with the Science of the Spheres in the full and perfect fruition +of the wisdom of the ages, will Man KNOW and REVERENCE his +Creator, and, in the silent Penetralia of his inmost being, +respond, in unison with that Angelic Anthem of Life: "We Praise +Thee, O God!" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext Light of Egypt, V II, by Wagner/Burgoyne + diff --git a/1650.zip b/1650.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e7d4a78 --- /dev/null +++ b/1650.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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