The Rosy Cross: A Footnote.

 

The Rosy Cross: A Footnote.

 

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

 

I am a microcosm, or the pentagram. My aim is to unite with the macrocosm, or the hexagram. This is a tough enquiry: Which one of the symbols best reflects this union? The allegory of the royal wedding is certainly worth considering, as well as the hexagram. But for me it is the Light of the Cross, the L.V.X. and of course L.V.X. formulates the Rosy Cross. I am the microcosm, and the world is the macrocosm, however, so is the infinity of space and all of its galaxies, planets and stars. Once a magician has perfected his elemental structure, his Soul is raised in a vertical line to unite with his angel and this raising of his Soul seems to be active as well as passive in nature, and the attainment is determined by the readiness of a magician, thus the ascent depends on Grace. Although this Grace is only attained via the agency of devotion, this inference is simply made from my understanding of the nature of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. The Grace is the Dove, the Shekinah and the most accurate term for its attainment is Agape. Hence, we now have the vertical line of the cross, with the Shekinah flooding the Soul of the magician and Agape is evoked in the heart of the aspirant. Agape then becomes active as Thelema or simply Will and symbolized by the Serpent which from its uncoiling Hadit expands horizontally into the world around him as well as vertically. The vertical expansion relates to his devotion and that which has led him to this, the horizontal expansion is associated with the world and is less personal, wherefrom union is attained with the totality of nature and is not particularly associated with the work and devotion of the magician. From my understanding then, there is a type of necessity generated through this dealing with the divine that leaves the aspirant grasping, so to speak, which is probably a bad way of saying it, but anyway, a grasping for closeness with the world and those around him, as for the first time he perhaps feels truly alone. As far as I can tell, this is the way in which the Rosy Cross is formulated and union between the microcosm and the macrocosm is attained. Once union is attained there is a separation again as Hadit contracts to formulate the Rose, the Rose is Nuit, and the Cross is Hadit. Once the symbol has been formulated, the Rose starts to expand again, thus linking the Cross to itself to maintain their connection. The union must then be the symbol of the Rose with 22 petals in the centre of the cross, as symbolic of Nuit and Hadit attributed to the heart and Love, thus completing the symbol that is suggestive of the Great Work.

So, once the pentagram is animated by the Shekinah it becomes the Christ, so to speak, hence the formula, yod-he-shin-vau-he, which is a symbol of the union presented in this essay. Another important point to remember and is depicted memorably vivid in the allegory of Jesus’ crucifixion, is that an adept will need to experience death in order to be reborn. This could be hinting at the horizontal expansion of the Cross of Light. As stated earlier, this union is not sought but forced as the result of the Shekinah’s influence. In other words, one will need to survive hell before being reborn as Osiris or the Christ. What is indicated, I believe is the marriage, the Royal Wedding, between Heaven and Earth, but more along the lines of the royal marriage between an adept and the universe, and here noting the world’s immediacy. It is worth pointing out that in Orphic theology the Shekinah is both Juno and Vesta, Juno who is the world and Vesta symbolic of Spirit or the Shekinah proper as we understand it. Thus, they represent the horizontal and vertical lines and the relationship, which is reestablished, forming an important part of the ordeal. Vesta is the closest link to Rhea, who is Babalon above the Abyss and Vesta is accordingly Babalon below the Abyss, ergo Juno is Babalon on Earth or in Malkuth below Tiphareth. And they are all manifestations of Nuit to whom we must dedicate our devotion. Rhea is associated with the Forms of Platonism, Vesta forms our link to these via her being associated with our unique relationship to the Forms, thus she is the feminine embodiment of one's ideal of perfection. Since Vesta is associated with that which one pledges his devotion, and logically, she is the easiest to fully unite with, however for the ego to regain balance and to fully realize the Great Work, it must reestablish its relationship with Juno. Hence, the reestablishment or refiguration of self is the ordeal of hell, depicted in the fable of Jesus, before he was reborn to prove his godliness, he had to forego heaven and went to hell for three days. Please excuse these Christian allegories, they just seem to be the easiest way to make sense of what the symbols mean? The symbols here are the formula of I.A.O., L.V.X. and the Rosy Cross, and from this Agape finds its place in the formula.

 “Love is the law, love under will.”

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Albus

 

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Albus

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

Albus is the third geomantic figure and corresponds to Mercury, Air and Gemini. It is suggestive of good fortune especially in matters of love and finance, the figure also indicates detachment which may be interpreted as a willingness to accept change.

The Vision:

I saw two giant waterfalls across from each other, they were identical, there was nothing in the vision besides these waterfalls, no plants or trees, it was as if I was floating in the air amidst them. Then I saw a little blue creature as small as a boy, but he must have been a man, he appeared to me like a baby, but he wasn’t a child. He was bold and his skin looked like streaming liquid, it streamed in all directions, and contrary to each-other's motions. It was as if he was entirely made of liquid, and he jumped up into the air and his body became an enormous face hovering above and in front of me. The face was speaking unintelligibly and as I concentrated and tried to make sense of what it was saying, my attention was taken and as I looked down, I saw the spirit again, this time he was giggling. His giggle turned into uncontrollable laughter, from which he grabbed his stomach and started rolling around on the floor. It was very amusing to see the spirit react this way, and I was filled with joy at the sight of him. His amusement ceased as fast as it started and at once he led me away saying, “I need things to be quiet, I need to think” “everything is good here, I am very prosperous” “there are dogs and houses”. The latter he said while he was ringing a bell, the bell was above his head, hanging down like an old doorbell. Every time he mentioned something, like dogs or houses, it would appear and vanish as he rang the bell, again with the new image taking its place. After a while, there were random images of things manifesting in sync with the ringing of the bell and without the little man saying a word, and this occurred so rapidly, that it was impossible to make out the character of these images. Then the little man was standing in front of me, my hands were cold and wet, then I saw a large amount of gold jewelry and someone, who's image I couldn't quite make out, looking through it, as if looking for something he'd lost, inspecting every piece carefully before putting it aside again. Suddenly, I saw a woman dancing, she was wearing a fine dress and covered with expensive jewelry, she had blonde hair and she seemed very happy, in fact she was ecstatic. I tested her and she suddenly stood in front of a giant knight in black armor, they were holding each other but as she leaned in to kiss him, she was violently jerked to another side of the scene. She was now standing in front of a giant monster and without losing her mood, she danced her way back to the knight as before, spiraling towards him. Every time she stood in front of the knight, she was jerked back into the arms of the monster, this continued for the duration of the vision, however and surprisingly, her mood remained pleasant throughout. And while all of this was happening, the spirit was standing next to me and laughing at the ridiculousness of the scene in front of us.

“Love is the law, love under will.”

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Amissio

 

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Amissio

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

Amissio is the second Geomantic figure and corresponds to Taurus, Venus and Earth. The nature of the symbol is loss, this may include not only material things, but all kinds of loss soever, thus it may indicate the impermanence of life also.

The Vision:

First, I saw two dogs fighting over food, then the vision became clearer, and I was standing at the entrance of a palace with a long corridor in front of me, also, the palace was entirely made of gold. Two rows of guards walked towards me, and a king followed, the king then took a golden crown off of his head and placed it on a large wooden table in front of him and walked away. He was giving up his kingship and after the king had gone, the guards started fighting over the crown in the same way as the dogs were fighting over the food at the start of the vision. At once I saw myself sitting on a big rock in springtime, I was sitting in a field of sun flowers, then the figure of me peacefully laid down and died. After I saw myself dying, I saw people dancing frantically at night, around a large fire, they were burning up their belongings, which they threw with great joy into the fire. Then it was Autum, I was standing in a forest watching the leaves as they fell from the trees. Then I felt myself, I felt the cold wind on my body and as I looked down at myself, I was standing naked in the middle of an empty forest. That’s when a great fire swept over the forest burning up all the plants and trees, which left me standing naked in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by nothing. At once I was surrounded by golden objects, there were scepters and goblets and crowns, they all seemed remarkably valuable. As I picked up these objects, they disappeared while I was holding them, turning to ash and falling from my hands. This carried on until I was confronted by a little girl, she was very strange looking, in fact, she may not have been a girl at all, her facial features were exaggerated, and her appearance was almost frightening. However, her demeanor was kind and she seemed quite pleasant. She asked me, “do you see the change? and then, before I could answer, she said, “you haven’t changed. After my encounter with the little girl, I ended the vision.

“Love is the law, love under will.”

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Puer

 

A Psychic Journey: Skrying Puer

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

Puer is the first Geomantic figure and corresponds to Aries and Fire. The figure indicates not being able to adapt to circumstances, as being either the result of inexperience or immaturity. Although Puer is a favorable omen in matters of conflict and sex, it usually indicates the need to reevaluate one’s current perspective and for compromise.

The Vision:

I saw a young boy playing with a stick, as if it was a sword. I was walking in mud, the boy was hitting and attacking objects with his stick as if waging an imaginary war against nature, beating the rocks and the plants, and giggling for lack of a better word and rather joyfully every time he launched an attack. Every time the image of the boy became clear, he would shine, there was at these intervals golden rays of light that emanated from his body. As the light dissipated and he returned to normal, he was bright yellow, and boyish and rugged. His behavior was extremely immature and not well thought out, he was just acting on impulse, or pure instinct. The vision took place in a lush jungle, the plants seemed prehistoric, with enormous, thick leaves and moss-covered tree bark. There were crows above us flying in circles and then crystals rose from out the mud forming a wall and a place for the crows to perch upon. The crows started violently engaging with each other, with each crow trying to chase the others off of the crystal pillars, even tearing each-other's flesh as they fought. The boy kept repeating “I am unique, I am strong” while playing with his weapon. Nearing the end of the vision, I saw another spirit, who confronted me, deliberately stealing my attention. I asked this new spirit about the mud, and he said, “it is from all the rain., Taken aback by the spirit’s response, I tested him to see if he was in the right place, and as I suspected, the sigil made him disappear. Then I saw the boy again, sulking, telling me he also wants the rain but there is only fire where we are. He stood up and fire manifested from his palms, which he was holding upwards to face the sky. Then he pointed at a giant volcano, the volcano was busy erupting and there were great big fireballs being shot into the air from its mouth. The sky was black, I saw a fireball shooting towards me, and then it started moving from side to side burning up everything, the manner in which it moved was controlled and in contrast to the way in which the fireballs moved that were expelled from the volcano, which was violent and chaotic. Although, the fire caused by the fireball was extremely violent burning up everything it came in contact with. The boy appeared from out of the flames, he kneeled before me in the way a knight might do, presenting a sword to me, which he held with both hands. Then he lost his temper and rushed at me with the sword, screaming in anger, it looked as if the boy wanted to stab me in my neck. However, as he got close to me, he instantly changed his direction and jumped and screamed, running back and forth across the jungle, which had returned to its original condition before it was burnt. He said: “I always have to keep quiet, I want to fight”. Then I was dragged by a tremendous force to another place, there were axes chopping giant pieces of lumber, there was nobody holding them, they just moved violently up and down on their own. At this point the vision became too chaotic to concentrate and I ended it.

“Love is the law, love under will.”

The Progeny of the Gods:

 

The Progeny of the Gods:

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

“So far likewise as Jupiter receives the whole of Saturn, he gives subsistence to a triple essence, the impartible, the partible, and that which subsists between these; but according to the Rhea which he contains in himself, he scatters as from a fountain, intellectual, psychical, and corporeal life.”

The Demiurge is qabalistically presented as the Adam Qadmon, although below the abyss his function is active and from above, he becomes receptive to the influence from the Saturnian Triad, which makes up Kether, Chokmah and Binah. The latter then represents the impartible and the former the partible aspects of his nature. Here I will look at how these three essences govern one’s development under the Demiurge. It is said that the Demiurge scatters from himself three forms of existence, the first is the intellectual and attributed to the sephiroth, Tiphareth, Geburah, and Chesed, the psychical are below these and correspond to Netzach, Hod and Yesod, whereas the corporeal is attributed to Malkuth. This is purely due to one’s relationship with these, which becomes clearer when considering the nature of reality and the way that it influences the ego’s development. We may think of Netzach, Hod and Yesod as relating to the world of feelings, Chesed, Geburah and Tiphareth is the intellect and leads us to who we truly are. Through this understanding of self and one’s place in the world, a person is no longer led predominantly by his impressions but starts to follow the higher faculties of his being, consciously transforming himself according to his intent. Hence in the qabalah these three triads are known as the Supernal, Ethical and Astral Triads, with Malkuth hanging pendant at the bottom of the tree.

“Farther still, the soul of the world gives life to altermotive natures; for to these it becomes the fountain and principle of motion, as Plato says in the Phaedrus and Laws. But the demiurgus simply imparts to all things life divine, intellectual, psychical, and that which is divisible about bodies. No one however should think that the Gods in their generations of secondary natures are diminished; or that they sustain a division of their proper essence in giving subsistence to things subordinate; or that they expose their progeny to the view, externally to themselves, in the same manner as the causes of mortal offspring. Nor in short, must we suppose that they generate with motion or mutation, but that abiding in themselves, they produce by their very essence posterior natures, comprehend on all sides their progeny, and supernally perfect the productions and energies of their offspring.”

The Demiurge’s role in this essay is attributed to Life, Intellect, Consciousness, and the Material aspects of things and people in the world around us. The intellective order, it should be noted, is where the potential for true creativity is derived from, it is seeing past our limitations that leads to inspiration from this order, and called the intellective as it can be contemplated but never truly expressed in the lower order of reality. This inspiration can only occur once there has been harmony established with the gods, and the nature of Being unfolds, before which a person is merely affected by his impressions without control. The soul of the world could thus be likened to the collective consciousness of humanity, and it is this collective consciousness, that is the progeny of the gods, by which every person’s ego is shaped according to the life into which they were born. The Demiurge rules over the gods, however, the gods’ relationship to the world is affected in a like manner as humans, who are affected by our relationship to the gods. As the world changes the gods must also evolve and adapt as they give birth to heroes throughout history, or as they give birth, indeed, to heroes and villains, who by way of their relationship to the world transform the nature of this first progeny of the gods. Mankind becomes witness to apocalyptic natural events, from which entire civilizations crumble, thus too, shaping this collective soul and the powers that govern it. There is no good and evil, so to speak, there is only nature, and it is by harmonizing one’s soul and becoming more sensitive to the inflections of this progeny, that we may accomplish the Great Work. The quote establishes, that the children of the gods are these heroes, who were able to accurately unite with the soul of the world, and thus venerable as gods themselves, for these half gods have made a sufficient contribution to the soul of man and their own souls, from which they have been immortalized and exemplified as gods among men.

“Love is the law, love under will.”

On the Saturnian Triad and our Connection to Eternity:

 

On the Saturnian Triad and our Connection to Eternity:

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

 

“And though Neptune says,

For we are three brothers from Saturn, whom Rhea bore, Jupiter and I, and the third is Pluto, who governs the infernal realms: " Yet Jupiter is called father by both these divinities; and this because he comprehends in himself the one and impartible cause of all fabrication; is prior to the Saturnian triad; connectedly contains the three fathers; and comprehends on all sides the vivification of Juno. Hence, at the same time that this goddess - gives animation to the universe, he also, together with other Gods, gives subsistence to souls. Very properly therefore do we say that the demiurgus in the Timaeus is the mighty Jupiter. For he it is who produces mundane intellects and souls, who adorns all bodies with figures and numbers, and inserts in them one union, and an indissoluble friendship and bond. For Night also, in Orpheus, advises Jupiter to employ things of this kind in the fabrication of the universe.” Thomas Taylor: The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus, Additional: Notes Page 168-169.

Of course, according to mythology Rhea is the Great Mother and attributed to Binah and also the wife of Saturn. Her daughter Juno is the Earth goddess and shares this connection to Saturn with her mother. It is here stated that Jupiter is called the father by his brothers and the reason is his twofold nature which links us to the Saturnian Triad. It is our link with this triad that may raise us to realizing divinity and it is via the intellect that this awakening is fostered, hence the Intelligible Triad is associated with the Forms. The supposition then being, that via contemplation of these Forms, man is essentially strengthening his connection to eternity, through which he may attain immortality. This immortalization thus occurs at the congealing of the Soul when one’s connection with this triad is rendered inseverable and from which true creativity is inspired.  Night, or Nyx corresponds to the N.O.X. signs of Thelemic ceremonial Magick and in Orphism is wherein Phanes gestates and corresponds to Da-ath. This state reflects Kether and Chaos is seen through the Mist generating our link to the Forms, these Forms are indivisible, however, only partially comprehended by each soul, giving it its unique character. It is Jupiter via his office as the Demiurge, who connects one to understanding these and raises us to wholeness. Nyx according to the Greek QBL has a value of 510, when taking these numbers separately we have Mist, Kether and Zero, the last of which I think may here be attributed to the veils of non-existence. 510 when considered within the context of this essay is attributed to the Head, this Head would be that of Macroposopus and this triad accordingly is analogous to the potential of the intellect to see past its perceived limitations and into this realm of Ideas, qabalistically, the point is made even clearer when reducing the value to 6, which is a sacred number of Binah.

“The proximate bond indeed of mundane natures is that which subsists through analogy; but the more perfect bond is derived from intellect and soul. Hence Timaeus calls the communion of the elements through analogy, and the indissoluble union from life, a bond. For he says, animals were generated bound with animated bonds. But a more venerable bond than these subsists from the demiurgic will.” Thomas Taylor: The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus, Additional Notes: Page 169.

If I look at a dog, there is no more to see, it is a dog, the same with a tree, the souls of these natures are apparent, owing to our knowledge of their functions and characters. However, human beings are more unique, and our distinct natures are derived via the same, our functions that correspond to our intellects, which determine each’s unique nature and the individual characteristics of our Souls. The above also corresponds to Atman and Brahman and it is only by fostering our connection to the Great Mother, that their union is established, hence the union between Heaven and Earth is attributed to Jupiter’s relationship with the Soul and the Intelligible gods. 

“Again, our soul knows partibly the impartible nature of the energy of the Gods, and that which is characterized by unity in this energy, in a multiplied manner: and this especially takes place about the demiurgus who expands intellectual forms, and calls forth intelligible causes, and evolves them to the fabrication of the universe.” Thomas Taylor: The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus, Additional Notes: Page 170.

The union spoken of between an individual and the Demiurge may be felt but can never be entirely rendered intellectually, owing to the limitations of each individual. Although the gods are united and all is bonded within the Demiurge, there is that which one is attracted to, which makes this impartial nature only partially perceived. Even though this is the case, it is not possible to come to the wholeness of self-realization without this union occurring, and to inspire that which is wrought by the gods and given unto man. Following that the bond which is established via this union becomes the True Will and is a point from whence an individual starts to consciously cultivate the nature of his own immortality, as pertaining to the nature of his work, which is inextricably bound up by his Soul.

“Love is the law, love under will.”

On the Demiurge:

 

On the Demiurge:

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

“JUPITER is not said to be, but is, the father of those who genuinely preserve the proper form of life, such as Hercules and the Dioscuri; but of those who are never at any time able to convert themselves to a divine nature, he never is nor is said to be the father. Such therefore, as having been partakers of a certain energy above human nature, have again fallen into the sea of dissimilitude, and for honour among men have embraced error towards the Gods, -of these Jupiter is said to be the father.”

Hercules and the Dioscuri are referring to those who refuse complete desolation in death and return to the world as avatars, not dissimilar to the idea of the Bodhisattvas of Buddhism. The Dioscuri is the office, so to speak, that was given to Castor and Pollux, heroes of the ancient Greek pantheon. It would seem from the above, that one’s relationship as being akin to the Demiurgus, is dependent on Karma, a notion that is not foreign to those of the Great White Brotherhood. Yes, a certain snobbery is indicated, but how many of us are truly drawn to the philosophic life, where it becomes with us the centre of the All? This quote then, is ideal in realizing the importance, that the Greeks, as well as the Egyptians placed on the philosophic pursuit, as intimating their means to transcendence. I would imagine that perfect knowledge of the gods is impossible to convey in terms that may be understood within the limits of temporality, and thus as they “have again fallen into the sea of dissimilitude,” their essences serve as a guidepost for one’s own realization, by means of the philosophic art.

“The paternal cause originates supernally from the intelligible and occult Gods; for there the first fathers of wholes subsist; but it proceeds through all the intellectual Gods into the demiurgic order.”

These paternal causes may be associated with the spheres of Binah, Chokmah and Kether, of course the L.V.X. generated from this realm preserves creation through consciousness and are thus called the fathers of the Gods.

“The fathers, however, who are superior to the one fabrication are called Gods of Gods, but the demiurgus is the father of Gods and men. Farther still, Jupiter is said to be peculiarly the father of some, as of Hercules, who immutably preserve a Jovian and ruling life during their converse with the realms of generation.”

Here it becomes clear why the supernal triad is called the Archetypal World and attributed to the Forms of Platonism, it is via the Demiurge, that the world is created, and we must be Gods as a result of the nature of existence, in other words, “I think therefore I am”. I am the All, a God, omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, and one with the Demiurge, the peculiarity spoken of in Jupiter’s relationship with Hercules, who could be considered an avenue only followed by the few, is that although the Demiurge is the father of all Gods and humankind, it is only through this unique aspect of the Demiurge, that we may come to realize each our individual godhead within the play of creation.

“Farther still, Jupiter is said to be peculiarly the father of some, as of Hercules, who immutably preserve a Jovian and ruling life during their converse with the realms of generation.”

It follows from these quotes that some are drawn to the Path of Return by the nature of their Souls, indeed "Let my servants be few & secret: they shall rule the many & the known." (Liber AL vel Legis) comes to mind from reading the above.

Quotes taken from Thomas Taylor’s: The Mystical Hymns of Orpheus, Additional notes.

“Love is the law, love under will.”