The Universe:

 The Universe:

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

 

The thirty-second path on the Tree of Life is the Hebrew letter Tau and The Universe, this path is associated with the Ordeal of the first initiation as coming into being. On the card there is a young girl rejoicing and this represents the Shekinah as inspiring Spirit hidden in matter, around the central figure there are the Four Powers of the Sphynx as protectors guarding the Temple from unwelcomed influence. The card is associated with Saturn, who in Greek mythology was the father of the Olympian gods, he is said to have severed Uranus’ genitals, which he threw in the Ocean thus separating Heaven and Earth, conversely this card can be seen as another aspect of the Fool card. From the foam created by Uranus’ genitals, was born Aphrodite, the goddess of love and the first Sephirot in the Astral Triad, which is most closely connected to the higher worlds on the Tree of Life. The effect Netzach and Hod has on the psyche of the aspirant is what leads to the first initiation, as concentrating the influence of the Sun through Yesod and into Malkuth where awakening takes place. The first principle is laid bare in the light of the Sun, that which was dependent on action has become inertia, as a result the aspirant should guard against unbalancing force. The Universe connects Malkuth to Yesod, linking the unconscious with the consciousness of the individual.

There is success proceeding the ordeal, therefore the only need on part of the enquirer, is to safeguard the Temple and persist in doing the work, which has led to yielding a fruitful outcome. There is much to learn and to experience, so the enquirer should be open to new ideas and especially learn from his experiences in this regard, that may serve to fortify the constitution of the Temple. This card is symbolic of initiation having been achieved, however the vigilance spoken of in the above is the vigilance which comes from an initiate's new perception, he has changed and to change means to adapt. It is made clear to the initiate what needs be changed and unless this is observed and corrected, he won't be able to move forward. This is what is meant by safeguarding the Temple, he has been reborn into the mysteries and the relationship between subject and object has changed, work is thus needed to ensure further development and maintain balance, which is the integrity of the Temple. Hence the path of Tav represents the initiate, but he is still faced with the central ordeal of initiation, being that of the Nephesh, although now he has a definite course and closer to the aim. The path of Shin and Tav both indicate the ordeal of the Nephesh, but in the card here presented, the initiate realizes the law that change is stability, and this is freed from being overwhelmed by prejudice and goes forward into the world. The ordeal of the Nephesh is an ordeal between subject and object and is essentially experienced by a Neophyte of the A.'.A.'.

The image of the card is a young maiden dancing with a serpent, the maiden symbolizes the final letter of Tetragrammaton as spirit concealed in matter, the Serpent is Heru-Ra-Ha, as the Sun shining into the Astral Triad and setting the daughter who is associated with He final back upon the throne of the mother He and Binah and awakening the eld of the father Yod of Tetragrammaton and the purpose of initiation, thus the card’s association with Saturn. The Sun too is Tiphareth and Vau of the ineffable name, this brings our glyph of the universe into coherence by symbolizing the constant cycle of rebirth contained within the laws of the natural and magickal universe, thus change is stability. Around the central figure are the four Kerubs representing the Four Powers of the Sphynx and the four quarters of the magick circle, the figure in the middle is holding onto a string extended from an Eye from which there is a concentration of light flowing into the picture, again this is a representation of the Shekinah, and the connection between the maiden and the highest world. She is surrounded by a wheel which she is spinning with her left hand issuing from a green orb that is in the process of transformation, this green orb is symbolic of Malkuth, the sphere of the elements and the first step upon the Path of the Wise.

“Love is the law, love under will.”