The Hierophant:

 

The Hierophant:

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

The 16^th path on the Tree of Life corresponds to The Hierophant ATU, Taurus and the Hebrew letter Vau. The card depicts a priest holding a wand, at the foot of the card is a maiden holding a sword in her right hand and the moon in her left, around them are the powers of the sphinx symbolized by the four heads in the corners of the card.

The Hierophant ATU is symbolic of initiation, the card’s connection to initiation within the Thelemic framework may be understood by understanding the Orphic idea of Phanes and Protogonus. It is said that Phanes is hidden in Jupiter and Protogonus is associated with Malkuth. Phanes is the god of light, symbolic of pure consciousness and the unfoldment of pure consciousness is indicated in his character. Protogonus is Phanes and thus in Orphic theology these names are sometimes used interchangeably, however the significance of this god having two names, may be understood within the symbolism of the Tree of Life especially the Adam Qadmon, as representing the evolution of consciousness. Phanes is pure light and hints at being’s complete unfoldment, thus he is attributed to Chesed. Phanes via his direct connection to the Demiurge and his connection to Protogonus is the Hierophant depicted in the card. Phanes is also Hadit in Thelemic parlance and so is Protogonus, this god is as a result of his nature as positioned auspiciously, always connected to the Supernal Triad as being that which is most sympathetic to the Spirit and as we understand in Thelema; it is Hadit’s nature to unite with the infinite body of Nuit. This card is an artistic rendering of the Tree of Life and the evolution of consciousness mentioned above. At the bottom of the card, we see a maiden who Crowley calls the Scarlett Woman hence Babalon holding a sword and the moon, the moon symbolizes the unconscious that is illuminated by intellect, which is symbolized by the sword, she is the Shekinah and establishes Protogonus’ connection to the Forms. This initiation is dramatically enacted every-day in the Thelemic Greater Ritual of the Pentagram called Liber H and is given to Neophytes of the A.'.A.'. for the purpose of illuminating the unconscious, thus establishing an intellectual connection between the magician and the sphere of Yesod. The card is symbolic then of Protogonus’ climb toward complete realization in Chesed, this is symbolically depicted by the union between the hexagram and pentagram in front of the hierophant and symbolic of the Ethical Triad, also seen within the card is the light from this union shining down on the maiden, again expressing Tiphareth’s relationship to Yesod. The child dancing at the centre of the pentagram is the Magickal Childe, which results from union between the lower and the higher or joining heaven and earth. This union is symbolized by the number 65 and presents the idea of the five-pointed star uniting with the six-pointed star, thus raising the microcosm (pentagram) to unite with the macrocosm (hexagram). The powers of the sphinx are there to guard a magician and facilitate his journey towards realization.

 I:49. Abrogate are all rituals, all ordeals, all words and signs. Ra-Hoor-Khuit hath taken his seat in the East at the Equinox of the Gods; and let Asar be with Isa, who also are one. But they are not of me. Let Asar be the adorant, Isa the sufferer; Hoor in his secret name and splendour is the Lord initiating.

I:50. There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! there are three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross must pass through fire; let the fine be tried in intellect, and the lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system & system; let not one know well the other!

Liber AL vel Legis 

“Love is the law, love under will.”