II. Zodiac
ARIES - the Ram - 21 March to 20 April
TAURUS
- the Bull - 21 April to 21 May
GEMINI
- the Twins - 22 May to 21June
CANCER
- the Crab - 22 June to 22 July
LEO
- the Lion - 23 July to 22 August
VIRGO
- the Virgin - 23 August to 23 September
LIBRA
- the Scales - 24 September to 23 October
SCORPIO
- the Scorpion - 24 October to 22 November
SAGITTARIUS
- the Archer - 23 November to 21 December
CAPRICORN
- the Goat - 22 December to 20 January
AQUARIUS
- the Water-bearer - 21 January to 19 February
PISCES
- the Fishes - 20 February to 20 March
These twelve signs are distributed among the for Triplicities, or sets
of three signs, each being attributed to one of the four Elements, and
they represent the operation of the elements in the Zodiac.
Thus to Fire Belong:
Aries ,
Leo , Sagittarius
Thus to Earth
Belong:
Taurus ,
Virgo ,
Capricorn
Thus to Air Belong:
Gemini ,
Libra ,
Aquarius
Thus to Water
Belong:
Cancer ,
Scorpio ,
Pisces
III. The Planets
To the Ancients, six Planets were known, besides the Sun, which they
classed with the planets. They also assigned certain planetary values
to the North and south Nodes of the Moon that is, the points where her
orbit touches that of the Ecliptic.
These they named :
The Old Planets are:
Saturn
Jupiter
Mars
Sol
Venus
Mercury
Luna (the Moon)
IV. The Hebrew Alphabet
Download a handy flashcard
utility to learn the Hebrew Alphabet
(not required for the game)
Letter |
Name |
Power |
Final |
Value |
Meaning |
|
Aleph |
A |
|
1 |
Ox |
|
Beth |
B,V |
|
2 |
House |
|
Gimel |
G,Gh |
|
3 |
Camel |
|
Daleth |
D,Dh |
|
4 |
Door |
|
He |
H |
|
5 |
Window |
|
Vau |
O,U,V |
|
6 |
Pin or Hook |
|
Zayin |
Z |
|
7 |
Sword or Armor |
|
Cheth |
Ch |
|
8 |
Fence, Enclosure |
|
Teth |
T |
|
9 |
Snake |
|
Yod |
I,Y |
|
10 |
Hand |
|
Kaph |
K,Kh |
|
20,500 |
Fist |
|
Lamed |
L |
|
30 |
Ox Goad |
|
Mem |
M |
|
40,600 |
Water |
|
Nun |
N |
|
50,700 |
Fish |
|
Samekh |
S |
|
60 |
Prop |
|
Ayin |
As,Ngh |
|
70 |
Eye |
|
Pe |
P,Ph |
|
80,800 |
Mouth |
|
Tzaddi |
Tz |
|
90,900 |
Fish-hook |
|
Qoph |
Q |
|
100 |
Ear, back of head |
|
Resh |
R |
|
200 |
Head |
|
Shin |
S,Sh |
|
300 |
Tooth |
|
Tau |
T,Th |
|
400 |
Cross |
Each letter epresents a number and also has a meaning. Five letters
have a different shape when written at the end of a word (remember, Hebrew
is read right to left). Mem is the only final with an oblong shape.
Kaph, Nun, Pe, and Tzaddi have tails that come below the line when written
as finals. Hebrew Letters are Holy Symbols. They should be
carefully drawn, and square.
5. The Sephiroth
The Hebrew Qabalists referred the highest and most abstract ideas to
the Emanations of Deity, or Sephiroth. They believed
that there were ten Sephiroth, and some occultists add an eleventh "invisible"
Sephira - Da'ath, which is made up of the combined emanations of Wisdom
and Understanding.
The Names of the Sephira, and their meanings, can be seen arranged in
the figure called the "Tree of Life" to the right. |
|
|
6. Meditation No. 1
The Neophyte should learn, regularly practice, and master the following
simple technique of the Fourfold Breath:
-
1. Empty the lungs and remain thus while counting four.
-
2. Inhale, counting four so that you feel filled with breath to the throat.
-
3. Hold this breath while counting four.
-
4. Exhale, counting four till the lungs are empty.
This Fourfold Breath technique should be practiced by the Neophyte while
he or she is composed in a basic posture or Asana, counting slowly or quickly
till s/he obtains a suitable rhythm. This simple technique will help
to still the body and quiet the mind of the Neophyte.
Having attained this, the Neophyte should consider a point as defined
in mathematics — having position, but no magnitude — and let him or her
take note of any important ideas which arise during this simple meditation.
Concentrating his or her mind on this point of meditation, let him or her
endeavor to realize the Immanence of the Divine Wisdom throughout Nature,
in all Her aspects.
7. The Quabalistic Cross And Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram
[GM Note: These rituals are extremely simple, and
easy to memorize. These are the only rituals in Golden Aeon that I will
expect players to know and be able to perform without prompts or a sheet.
The rationale for this is that they are extremely common elements of rituals,
and even normal activities and for the sake of grace, I'd like to see them
performed without prompts. I'm not too concerned with perfection
or quality, as long as it "looks good" - Thelemites note that the traditional
G.D. Qabalistic Cross does not include IAO]
Introduction to the Ritual
There is a much employed Ritual which utilizes the symbol of the Pentagram
as a general means to banish and invoke the elemental forces. This Ritual
is called the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram. However, it should
not simply be regarded as a mere device to invoke or banish, for it is
really the Stone of the Wise and incorporates within its structure a high
magical formula of Self-Initiation. It is, to all intents and purposes,
a Ritual of Self-Initiation. This ritual is given to the Neophyte
of the Order as a means for him/her to come into contact with the invisible
forces of Nature and to learn how to direct those elementary forces.
8. The Uses of the Pentagram Ritual
Opening and Closing any Magical Work
The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram can be used to open and close any
magical or mystical work, such as a ceremony or meditation.
As an Exorcism
The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram can be used by the Neophyte as a
protection against impure magnetism, and as a practical form of exorcism,
to eliminate obsessing or disturbing thoughts. In this the Neophyte
should first formulate a mental image of the obsession or disturbing thought,
then s/he should project the image outside of his/her Aura with the Sign
of Projection (Sign of Horus), and when the image is approximately three
feet away, the Neophyte should give the Sign of Silence (Sign of Harpocrates)
to prevent the image from returning unto him or her. With the image
of the obsession or disturbing thought in the East, the Neophyte should
then perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram to disintegrate
the image, seeing it in his/her mind’s eye dissolving on the further side
of the Circle of Flame which is formulated in the Pentagram Ritual.
9. The Pillars
In the explanation of the Symbols of the Grade of Neophyte, your attention
has been directed to the general mystical meaning of the Two pillars called
in the Ritual the "Pillars of Hermes" of "Seth" and of "Solomon."
In the 9th chapter of the Ritual f the Dead they are referred to as the
"Pillars of Shu," the "Pillars of the Gods of Dawning Light," and also
as "the North and Southern Columns of the Gate of the Hall of Truth."
In the 125th Chapter, they are represented by the sacred gateway, the door
to which the aspirant is brought when he has completed the negative confession.
The archaic pictures on the one Pillar are painted in black upon a white
ground, and those on the other in white upon a black ground, in order to
express the interchange and reconciliation of opposing forces and the eternal
balance of light and darkness which gives force to visible nature.
The black cubical bases represent darkness and matter wherein the spirit,
the Ruach Elohim, began to formulate the Ineffable NAME, that Name which
the ancient Rabbis have said "rushes through the universe," that Name before
which the Darkness rolls back the birth of time.
The flaming red triangular capitals which crown the summit of the Pillars
represent the Triune manifestation of the Spirit of Life, the Three Mothers
of the Sepher Yetsirah, the Three Alchemical Principles of Nature, the
Sulphur, the Mercury and the Salt.
Each Pillar is surmounted by its own light-bearer veiled from the material
world.
At the base of both Pillars rise the Lotus flowers, symbols of regeneration
and metempsychosis. The archaic illustrations are taken from the
vignettes of teh 17th and 125th chapter of the Ritual of the Dead the Egyptian
Book of the Per-em-Hru or the Book of Coming Forth into the Day, the oldest
book in the world as yet discovered. The Recension of the Priests
of ON is to be found in the walls of the Pyramids of the Kings of the 5th
and 6th Dynasties at Sakarah, the recensions of the 11th and 12th Dynasties
on the sarcophagi of thatperiod, and the Theban recension of the 18th Dynasty
and onward is found on papyri, both plain and illuminated. No satisfactory
translation of these books is avalable, none having been yet attempted
by a scholar having the qualifications of mystic as well as Egyptologist.
The Ritual of the Dead, generally speaking, is a collection of hymns
and prayers in the form of a series of ceremonial Rituals to enable the
man to unite himself with Osiris the Redeemer. After this union he
is no longer called the man, but Osiris with whom he is now symbolically
identified. "That they also may be One of us," said the Christ of
the New Testament. "I am Osiris" said the purified and justified
man, his soul luminous and washed from sin in the immortal and uncreated
light, united to Osiris, and thereby justified, and the son of God; purified
by suffering, strengthened by opposition, regenerate through self-sacrifice.
Such is the subject of the great Egyptian Ritual.
The 17th Chapter of the Theban recension consists of a very ancient
text with several commentaries, also extremely old, and some prayers, none
of which come into the scheme of the orginal text. It has, together
with the 12th chapter, been very carefully translated for the purpose of
this lecture by the V.H. Frater M.W.T, and the V.H. Soror S.S.D.D. has
made many valuable suggestions with regard to the interpretation.
The Title and Preface of the 17th Chapter reads:
"Concerning the exaltation of the Glorified Ones, of Coming and Going
forth in the Divine Domain, of the Genies of the Beautiful land of Amentet.
Of coming forth in the light o fDay in any form desired, of Hearing the
Forces of Nature by being enshrined as a living Bai."
And the rubric is:
"The united with Osiris shall recite it when he has entered the Harbour.
May glorious things be done thereby upon earth. May all the words
of the Adept be fulfilled."
Owing to the complex use of symbols, the ritual translation of the Chapter
can only be understood by perpetual reference to the ancient Egyptian commentaries,
and therefore the following paraphrase has been put together to convey
to modern minds as nearly as possible the ideas conceived by the old Egyptians
in this glorious triumphal song of the Soul of Man made one with Osiris,
the Redeemer.
"I am TUM made One with all things.
"I have become NU. I am RA in his rising ruling by right of his
power I am the Great God self-begotten, even NU, who pronounced
His Names, and thus the Circle of Gods was created.
"I am Yesterday and know Tomorrow. I can never more be overcome.
I know the secret of Osiris, whose being is perpetually revered of RA.
I have finished the work which was planned at the Beginning. I am
the spirit made manifest, and armed with two vast eagle's plumes.
Isis and Nephthys are their names, made One with Osiris.
"I claim my inheritance. My sisns have been uprooted and my passions
overcome. I am Pure White. I dwell in Time. I live through
Eternity, when Initiates make offering to the Everlasting Gods. I have
passed along the Pathway. I know the Northern and the Southern Pillars,
the two Columns at the Gateway of the Hall of Truth.
"Stretch unto me your hands, O ye Dwellers in the centre. For I
am transformed into a God in your midst. Made One with Osiris, I
have filled the eye socket in the day of the morning when Good and Evil
fought together.
"I have lifted up the cloud-veil in the Sky of the Storm. Till I
saw RA born again from out of the Great waters. His strength is
my strength and my strength is his strength. Homage to you, Lords
of Truth, chiefs of Osiris rules. Granting release from Sin, Followers
of Ma where rest is Glorious. Whose throne Anubis built in the day
when Osiris said:
"Lo! A man wins his way to Amentet. I come before you, to drive
away my faults. As ye did to the Seven Glorious Ones who follow
their Lord Osiris. I am that Spirit of Earth and Sun."
"Between the Two Pillars of Flame. I am RA when he fought beneath
the Ashad Tree, destroying the enemies of the Ancient of Days. I
am the Dweller in the Egg. I am he who turns in the disc.
I shine forth from the horizon as the gold from the mine. I float
through the Pillars of SHU in the ether. Without a peer among the
Gods. The Breath of my mouth is as a flame. I light upon the
Earth with my glory. Eye cannot gaze on my daring beams as they
reach through the Heavens and lick up the Nile with tongues of flame.
I am strong upon Earth with the strength of RA. I have come into
Harbour as Osiris made perfect. Let priestly offerings be made to
me as one in the train of the ancient of Days. I brood as the Divine
Spirit. I move in the firmness of my Strength. I undulate
as the Waves that vibrate through Eternity. Osiris has been claimed
with acclamation, and ordained to rule among the Gods. Enthroned
in the Domain of Horus where the Spirit and Body are united in the presence
of the Ancient of Days. Blotted out are the sins of his body in
passion. He has passed the Eternal Gate, and has received the New
Year Feast with Incense, at the marriage of Earth with Heaven.
"TUM has built his Bridal Chamber. RURURET has founded his shrine.
The procession is completed. HORUS has purified, SET has consecrated,
SHU made one with OSIRIS, has entered his heritage.
"As TUM he has entered the Kingdom to completed union with the Invisible.
Thy Bride, O Osiris, is Isis, who mourned thee when she found thee slain.
In Isis, thou art born again. From Nephthys is thy nourishment.
They cleansed thee in thy Heavenly Birth. Youth waits upon thee,
ardour is ready at thy hand. And their arms shall uphold thee for
millions of years. Initiates surround Thee and Thine enemies are
cast down. The Powers of Darkness are destroyed. The Companions
of They Joys are with Thee. Thy Victories in the Battle await their
reward in the Pillar. The Forces of Nature obey Thee. Thy
Power is exceeding great. The Gods curse him that curseth Thee.
Thine Aspirations are fulfilled. Thou art Mistress of Splendour.
They are destroyed who barred the way.
The 125th Chapter is concerned with the entry of an Initiate into the
Hall of the Two Columns of Justice, and commenced with a most beautiful
and symbolic description of Death, as a journey from the barren wilderness
of Earth, to the Glorious Land which lies beyond. The literal translation
of the opening lines is as follows:
"I have come from afar to look upon thy beauties. My hands salute
Thy Name of Justice. I have come from afar, where the Acacia Tree
grew not. Where the tree thick with leaves is not born. Where
there com not beams from herb or grass. I have entered the Place
of Mystery. I have communed with Set. Sleep came upon me,
I was rapped therein, bowing down before the hidden things. I was
ushered into the House of Osiris. I saw the marvels that were there.
The Princes of the Gates in their Glory.
The illustrations in this chapter represent the Hall of Truth as seen
through the open leaves of its door. The Hall is presided over by
a God who holds his right hand over the cage of a hawk, and his left over
the food of eternity. On each side of the God is a cornice crowned
by a row of alternate feathers and Uraei symbolizing justice and firey
power. The door leaf which completes the right hand of a stall is
called "Posessor of Truth controlling the Feet," while that on the left
is "Possessor of strength, binding the male and female animals."
The 42 Judges of the Dead are represented as seated in a long row, and
each of them has to be named, and the Sin over which he presided has been
denied.
This chapter describes the introduction of the initiate into the Hall
of Truth by Anubis, who, having questioned the aspirant, receives from
him an account of his initiation, and is satisfied by his right to enter.
He States that he has been taken into the ante-chamber of the Temple and
there stripped and blind-folded, he had to grope for the entrance of the
Hall, and having found it he was reclothed and anointed in the presence
of the Initiated. He is then asked for the Pass-words and demands
that his Soul should be weighed in the Great Balance of the Hall of Truth,
whereupon ANUBIS again interrogates him concerning the symbolism of the
door of the Hall, and his answers being found correct, ANUBIS says: "Pass
on, thou knowest it."
Among other things the initiate states that he has been purified
four times, the same number of times that the Neophyte is purified and
consecrated in the ceremony of the Neophyte. He then makes the long
Negative Confession, stating to each Judge in turn that he is innocent
of that form of Sin over which he judges. Then he invokes the Judges
to do him justice, and afterwards describes how he had washed in the washing
place of the South, and rested in the North, in the place called "Son
of the Deliverers" and he becomes the Dweller under the Olive Tree of
Peace, and how how he was given a tall flame of fire and a sceptre of
cloud, and made a lake of it. The initiate is then brought to the
actual Pillars, and has to name them and their parts under the symbol
of the Scales of Balance. He also has to name the Guardian of the
Gateway who prevents his passage, and when all these are propitiated,
the plea of the Hall itself cries out against his steps, saying "Because
I am silent, because I am pure," and it must know that his aspirations
are pure enough hand high enough for him to be allowed to tread upon it.
He is then allowed to announce to Thoth that he is clean from all evil,
and has overcome the influence of the planets, and THOTH says to him:
"Who is He whose Pylons are of Flame, whose walls of Living Uraei, and
the flames of whose House are streams of Water?" and the Initiate replies
"Osiris!"
And it is immediately proclaimed: "The meat shall be from the Infinite,
and thy drink from the Infinite. Thou art able to go forth to the
sepulchral feasts on earth, for thou has overcome."
Thus, these two chapters, which are represented by their illustrations
upon the Pillars, represent the advance and purification of the Soul and
its union with Osiris, the Redeemer, in the Golden Dawn of the Infinite
Light, in which the Soul is transfigured, knows all, and can do all, for
it is made One with the Eternal God.
KHABS AM PEKHT
KONX OM PAX
LIGHT IN EXTENSION!
Source: Principally Israel Regardie, and "The Equinox"
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