4 = 7
The Philosophus Grade
Part I
TEMPLE OFFICERS
Hierophant: Red Robe, R&W Nemyss, Gold Shoes, White Collar, Lamen, Scepter.
Hiereus: Black Robe, B&W Nemyss, Red Shoes, Red Collar, Lamen, Sword.
Hegemon: White Robe, White Nemyss, Black Collar, Red Shoes, Lamen, Scepter.
Candidate: Black Robe, Red Shoes, Sash, Red Rope, Hoodwink
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE ALTAR
2 Red Tapers
12 Square Calvary Cross
18th Key of the
Tarot
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE TEMPLE
Part I
Banners Of The East And West
Temple Pillars
Hebrew
Letters: Shin, Tau, Qoph
Tablet Of The Serpent Of Brass
Diagram Of
Qabalah Of Nine Chambers
Diagram Of Hexagram Of Tiphareth
Diagrams
Of Geomantic Figures Of 8 Radii
Enochian Fire Tablet
3 Red
Lamps
Censer
4 Chairs
3 Cups Of Water
3 Small Altars
Part I
THE OPENING
(The Throne of the Hierophant, beside which is a Cup of Water and the Banner of the East, is placed before the Dais N.E. The seat of the Hegemon is before the Dais in the S.E. Hiereus in the West. Each officer has a Cup of Water. The Pillars are placed about 2 feet in front of Hegemon's seat, and behind her is the letter Qoph. The Altar in the center has a candle on either side. On it is the Tarot Key, The Moon. The Elemental Lights are lit. Incense burns in the South. Temple arranged as for Path 29. Members assembled and Robed.)
Hiero:
(Knocks) Honored Fraters and Sorors,
assist me to open the Temple in the Grade of Philosophus. Honored Hegemon
see that the Temple is properly guarded.
Heg:
Very Honored Hierophant the Temple is
properly guarded.
Hiero:
Honored Hiereus, see that none below the
Grade of Philosophus is present.
Hiereus:
Honored Fraters and Sorors, give the sign
of Philosophus.
(Done)
Hiereus:
(Saluting.) Very Honored
Hierophant, all present have attained the Grade of Philosophus.
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon, to what particular Element
is this Grade attributed?
Heg:
To the Element of Fire.
Hiero:
Honored Hiereus, to what Planet does this
Grade especially refer?
Hiereus:
To the Planet Venus.
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon, what Paths are attached to
this Grade?
Heg:
The 29th, 28th and
27th Paths of Qoph, Tzaddi and Peh.
Hiero:
Honored Hiereus, to what does the 29th Path
refer?
Hiereus:
To the reflection of the Sphere of
Pisces.
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon, to what does the
28th Path allude?
Heg:
To the reflection of the Sphere of Aquarius.
Hiero:
Honored Hiereus, to what does the
27th Path allude?
Hiereus:
To the reflection of the Sphere of Mars.
Hiero:
(Knocks)
All rise and face East.
Hiero:
Let us adore the Lord and King of Fire.
Hiero:
Tetragrammaton Tzabaoth. Blessed be Thou,
the Leader of Armies is Thy Name! Amen.
All salute.
Hiero:
Quits his throne and proceeds to South and
knocks.
All face South.
Hiero:
Stands before the Tablet of Fire. He makes
with his scepter the invoking Circle and Pentagrams before it in the Air.
Hiero:
And Elohim said, Let us make Adam in our
Image after our likeness, and let them have Dominion. In the Name of
Elohim, Mighty and Ruling, and in the Name of Tetragrammaton Tzabaoth,
Spirits of Fire, adore your Creator.
Hiero:
Takes the Incense from before the Tablet,
and making therewith the Sign Leo in the Air before it.
Hiero:
In the Name of Michael the great Archangel
of Fire, and in the Sign of the Lion, Spirits of Fire, adore your Creator!
(Making with Incense the sign of Cross.) In the Names and
Letters of the Great Southern Quadrangle, revealed unto Enoch by the Angel
Ave, Spirits of Fire, adore your Creator. (Holding Incense on
high.) In the three Great Secret Names of God, borne on the
Banners of the South, OIP TEEA PEDOCE Spirits of Fire, adore your Creator.
In the Name of EDELPERNA, Great King of the South, spirits of Fire adore
your Creator.
Hiero:
Replaces incense and returns to place.
All face East.
Hiero:
In the Name of Tetragrammaton Tzabaoth, I
declare the Temple opened in the Grade of Philosophus.
Hiero:
(Knocks 3, 3, 1)
Hiereus:
(Knocks 3, 3, 1)
Heg:
(Knocks 3, 3, 1)
ADVANCEMENT OF 29th PATH
(Temple arranged for Ritual of 29th Path, as in Diagram. The Temple is darkened.)
Hiero:
(Knocks) Honored Fraters and Sorors,
our Frater XYZ having made such progress in the Paths of Occult Science as
has enabled him to pass the examination in the requisite knowledge and
further having been a member of the Grade of Practicus for a period of
more than three months, is now eligible for advancement to the Grade of
Philosophus, and I have duly received a dispensation from the Greatly
Honored Chiefs of the Second Order to advance him in due form. Honored
Hegemon, superintend the preparation of the Practicus and give the
customary alarm.
Heg:
Rises, salutes the Hierophant, quits the
Temple and sees that the Practicus is prepared as follows, wearing sash of
Practicus, hoodwinked, and with Calvary Cross formed of 12 squares in
right hand. Hegemon takes Practicus by left hand and gives an alarm of 7
Knocks.
Heg:
And the RUACH ELOHIM moved upon the face of
the Waters.
Hiereus:
Opens door and admits them, then returns
to his place.
Heg:
Conducts Practicus to South in front of the
Tablet of Fire, faces him to East and takes from him the Calvary Cross.
Hiero:
Give to the Hegemon the Sign, Grip or
Token, Grand Word, Mystic Number and Password of the Grade of Practicus.
Pract:
Sign, General Grip of 1st Order.
Grand Word Elohim Tzabaoth, No. 36, Password Eloah.
(Done)
Hiero:
Give me also the Mystic title and Symbol
which you received in that Grade.
Pract:
Monokeros de Astris Mayim.
(Done)
Heg:
Places Practicus before Tablet of
Fire.
Hiero:
Frater (XYZ) do you solemnly pledge
yourself to maintain the same strict secrecy regarding the mysteries of
the 29th, 28th and 27th Paths and of the
Grade of Philosophus, which you have already sworn to maintain respecting
those of the preceding Grades?
Pract:
I do.
Hiero:
Then you will stretch your arms above your
head to their full limit and say I swear by the torrent of Fire.
Pract:
I swear by the torrent of Fire
(Done)
Hiero:
Let the hoodwink be removed.
Heg:
Removes hoodwink.
Heg:
Places in his hand the incense from before the
Fire Tablet.
Hiero:
Wave the incense before the Tablet of Fire
and say Let the Powers of Fire witness my Pledge.
Pract:
Let the powers of Fire witness my Pledge.
(Done)
Heg:
Replaces Incense.
Hiero:
Conduct the Practicus to the East and place
him before the Mystic Pillars.
(Done.)
THE RITUAL OF THE 29th PATH
Hiero:
Before you are the Portals of the
31st, 32nd and 29th Paths as in the Grade
of Zelator. The two former you have already traversed, and the Portal of
the 29th Path, on the right hand leading from the Grade of
Zelator to the Grade of Philosophus is now open to you. Take in your right
hand the Calvary Cross of 12 squares, and follow your Guide through the
Path of the Waters.
Heg:
Circumambulates the Hall once with Practicus
having previously given him the Calvary Cross to bear.
Hiereus:
As they approach rises with red lamp in
his hand.
Hiero:
The Priest with the mask of Osiris spake
and said I am the Water, Stagnant and Silent and Still, reflecting all,
concealing all. I am the past. I am the Inundation. He who riseth from the
Great Waters is my Name. Hail unto ye, Dwellers of the Land of Night, for
the rending of the Darkness is near.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round to seat of Hiereus.
Hiereus:
As they approach takes red lamp in his
hand and rises.
Hiereus:
The Priest with the mask of Horus spake
and said, I am Water turbid and troubled. I am the Banisher of Peace in
the Vast Abode of the Waters. None is so strong that can withstand the
Great Waters, the vastness of their Terror, the magnitude of their Fear,
the roar of their thundering Voice. I am the Future, Mist-clad and
shrouded in Gloom. I am the Recession of the Torrent, the Storm veiled in
Terror is my Name. Hail unto the Mighty Powers of Nature, and the Chiefs
of the Whirling Storm.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round to his own seat. Takes
red lamp in his hand and addresses Practicus.
Heg:
The Priestess with the mask of Isis spake and
said, The Traveller through the Gates of Anubis is my Name. I am Water
pure and limpid, ever flowing on towards the Sea. I am the ever-passing
Present, which stands in the place of the Past. I am the fertilized Land.
Hail unto the Dwellers of the Wings of the Morning.
Heg:
Replaces lamp. Seats Candidate West of and
close to the Altar facing Hierophant and returns to his own place.
Hiero:
I arise in the Place of the Gathering of
the Waters through the rolled back cloud of Night. From the Father of
Waters went forth the Spirit rending asunder the veils of Darkness. And
there was but a Vastness of Silence and of depth in the Place of the
Gathering of the Waters; terrible was that Silence of an Uncreated World,
immeasurable the depth of that Abyss. And the Countenance of Darkness half
formed, arose. They abode not, they hasted away. And in the vastness of
Vacancy, the Spirit moved, and the Light-bearers existed for a space. I
have said Darkness of Darkness; Are not the countenances of Darkness
fallen with the Kings? Do the Sons of the Night of Time last forever? And
have they not passed away? Before all things are the Waters, and the
Darkness, and the Gates of the Land of Night. And the Chaos cried aloud
for the Unity of Form, and the Face of the Eternal arose. Before the Glory
of that Countenance the night rolled back and the Darkness hasted away. In
the Waters beneath was that Face reflected, in the Formless Abyss of the
Void. From those Eyes darted rays of terrible splendor which crossed with
the Currents reflected. That Brow and those Eyes formed the Triangle of
the measureless Heavens, and their reflection formed the Triangle of the
Measureless Waters. And thus was formulated the Eternal Hexad, the Number
of the Dawning Creation.
Heg:
Turns up the lights and then conducts the
Practicus to the foot of Hierophant's throne, handing Practicus the
Calvary Cross of 12 squares.
Hiero:
The Calvary Cross of 12 Squares fitly
represents the Zodiac, which embraces the Waters of Nu, as the ancient
Egyptians called the heavens; the Waters which be above the Firmament. It
also alludes to the Eternal River of Eden divided into four heads which
finds their correlatives in the four triplicities of the Zodiac.
(Places Cross aside.) The 29th Path of the Sepher Yetzirah
which answereth to the letter Qoph, is called the Corporeal Intelligence,
and it is so called because it formeth every body which is formed beneath
the whole Order of Worlds, and the Increment of them. It is there, the
reflection of the Sphere of the Watery Sign Pisces, and the Path
connecting the Material Universe as depicted in Malkuth, with the Pillar
of Mercy, and the side of Chesed through the Sephira Netzach. And through
it do the Waters of Chesed flow down.
Hiero:
Heg:
Pract:
Move to West of Altar.
Hiero:
Before you upon the Altar is the
18th Key of the Tarot, which symbolically resumes these ideas.
It represents the Moon with four Hebrew Yods, like drops of dew falling,
two dogs, two towers, a winding pathway leading to the horizon, and in the
foreground, Water, with a crayfish crawling through it towards land. The
Moon is in the increase on the side of Gedulah, and from it proceed
sixteen principal and sixteen secondary rays, which together make 32, the
number of the Paths of Yetzirah. She is the Moon at the feet of the Woman
of the Revelation, ruling equally over Cold and Moist Natures, and the
Passive Elements of Earth and Water. The four Hebrew Yods refer to the
four letters of the Holy Name reconstituting the destroyed World from the
Waters. It is to be noted that the symbol of the Sign Pisces is formed of
the two lunar crescents of Gedulah and Geburah bound together, and thus
shows the lunar nature of the Sign. The Dogs are the Jackals of the
Egyptian Anubis, guarding the Gates of the East and of the West, shown by
the two Towers, between which lies the Path of all the Heavenly Bodies
ever rising in the East and setting in the West. The Crayfish is the sign
Cancer, and was anciently the Scarabus or Khephra, the emblem of the Sun
below the horizon as he ever is when the Moon is increasing above. Also
when the Sun is in the Sign Pisces, the Moon will be well in her increase
in Cancer as shown by the Crayfish emblem.
Hiero:
Leads Practicus to Tablet of the Serpent of
Brass in East.
Hiero:
This is the Serpent Nehushtan which Moses
made when the Children of Israel were bitten by the Serpents of Fire in
the wilderness. It is the Serpent of the Paths of the Tree. And he set it
on a pole, that is, twined round the middle Pillar of the Sephiroth. And
the word used in the passage in Numbers 21 for Fiery Serpents, is the same
as the name of the angels of Geburah, the same spelling, the same
pointing, Seraphim, around the middle Pillar of the Sephiroth, because
that is the reconciler between the Fires of Geburah and Severity, and the
Waters of Chesed or Mercy, and hence it is said in the New Testament, that
it is a type of Christ, the Reconciler. And the Serpent is of Brass, the
Metal of Venus, whose Sphere is called Nogah or External Splendor, as
shown further in the Alchemic symbol of the Planet Venus, wherein the
circle of the Sun is exalted above the Cross of corrosion. And therefore
it is said in the Zohar, that alone of the Shells is the Serpent Nogah
found in Holiness, and he is called the Bilanx of Justice. Why then is he
called the External or false Splendor? Because he indeed uniteth the Paths
but comprehendeth not the Sephiroth. Nevertheless he is also the Celestial
Serpent of Wisdom. But the Serpent of Temptation is the Serpent of the
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and not that of the Tree of Life.
Hiero:
Resumes his seat.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Hiereus.
Hiereus:
(Indicating Tablet) This is the
so-called Qabalah of Nine Chambers. In it the letters are classed
together, according to the similarity of their numbers. Thus, in one
chamber you will see Gimel, Lamed and Shin classed together, whose numbers
are similar 3, 30, 300 and so on. The uppermost is the most usual form of
the diagram. In the lower the chambers are arranged according to the
Sephiroth. This Tablet (indicating it) represents the method of 'forming
the Tree of Life in the Tarot. The four Aces are placed on the Throne of
Kether. The remaining small cards of each suit desired are then placed on
the respective Sephiroth, 2 on Chokmah, 3 on Binah and so on. The 22
Trumps are then arranged on the letters of the Paths between them. The
King and Queen of the Suit are placed beside Chokmah and Binah
respectively, the Knight beside Tiphareth and the Knave beside Malkuth,
thus representing the attribution of the Sephiroth to the four letters of
the Holy Name in the World wherein they operate.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet of The Pillars in
South.
Heg:
This Tablet represents the formation of the
Hexagram of Tiphareth from the Pillars on each side. In Chesed is the
Water and in Geburah is the Fire, and in Tiphareth is the uniting and
reconciliation of both Triangles in the Hexagram, as Aleph forms the
reconciliation between Mem and Shin so thus stands the reconciling Pillar
between the Pillars of Fire and of Cloud; the Yakin and Boat of Solomon's
Temple.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet in North.
Heg:
The mode of using the Talismanic forms drawn
from the Geomantic figures, is to take those formed by the figures under
the Planet required and place them at the opposite ends of a wheel of 8
radii as shown. A versicle suitable to the matter is then written within
the double circle.
Hiero:
I have much pleasure in now conferring upon
you the title of Lord (Lady) of the 29th Path. You will now
quit the Temple for a short time and on your return the ceremony of your
passage of the 28th Path will take place.
TEMPLE OFFICERS
Part II
Hierophant: Red Robe, R&W Nemyss, Gold Shoes, White Collar, Lamen, Scepter.
Hiereus: Black Robe, B&W Nemyss, Red Shoes, Red Collar, Lamen, Sword.
Hegemon: White Robe, White Nemyss, Black Collar, Red Shoes, Lamen, Scepter.
Candidate: Black Robe, Red Shoes, Sash.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE ALTAR
2 Red Tapers
4 Sided Pyramid
17th Key of the Tarot
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE TEMPLE
Banners Of The East And West
Temple Pillars
Hebrew
Letters: Resh, Samech, Tzaddi
Diagram Of Dekagram, Endekagram,
Dodekagram & all Endekangles etc.
Diagram Of Caput and Cauda
Draconis
Enochian Fire Tablet
3 Red Lamps
Censer
4 Chairs
3
Cups Of Water
3 Small Altars
Part II
ADVANCEMENT PATH 28
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon, you have my command to
present the Practicus with the necessary admission badge and to admit him
(her).
Heg:
Rises goes to door, opens it, presents
Practicus with solid pyramid of elements and admits him.
Heg:
And ever forth from their central source The
Rivers of Eden flow.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to South East before Pillars.
Hiero:
Frater (XYZ) the Path now open before you
is the 28th leading from the Grade of Theoricus to the Grade of
Philosophus. Take in your right hand the solid Pyramid of the Elements and
follow the Guide of the Path.
Heg:
Circumambulates Hall once with Practicus.
Hiero:
As they approach rises, the red lamp in his
hand. They halt before him.
Hiero:
The Priestess with the mask of Isis spake
and said I am the rain of Heaven, descending upon the Earth, bearing with
it the fructifying and germinating Power. I am the plenteous yielder of
Harvest; I am the Cherisher of Life.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round to the seat of the
Hiereus.
Hiereus:
As they approach rises with red lamp in
his hand. They halt before him.
Hiereus:
The Priestess with the Mask of Nephthys
spake and said I am the Dew descending noiseless and silent, gemming the
Earth with countless Diamonds of Dew; bearing down the influences from
above in the solemn Darkness of Night.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round to his own seat, takes
red lamp in his hand and thus addresses the Practicus.
Heg:
The Priestess with the Mask of Athor spake
and said 1 am the Ruler of Mist and Cloud; wrapping the Earth as it were
with a garment floating and hovering between Earth and Heaven. I am the
Giver of the Mist Veil of Autumn, the successor of the Dew clad Night.
Heg:
Replaces lamp and seats Practicus West of and
close to the Altar facing Hierophant, then returns to his own seat.
Hiero:
Where the Paternal Monad is, the Monad is
enlarged and generateth two. And beside him is seated the Duad, and both
glittereth with intellectual Sections, also to govern all things and to
order everything not ordered. For in the whole Universe shineth the Triad,
over which the Monad ruleth. This Order is the beginning of all Sections.
Hiereus:
For the Mind of the Father said, that all
things should be cut into three whose will assented, and then all things
were so divided. For the mind of the Eternal Father said into three,
governing all things by Mind. And there appeared in it the Triad, Virtue,
and Wisdom and Multiscient Truth.
Hiereus:
Thus floweth forth the form of the Triad
being preexistent - Not the First Essence, but that whereby all things are
measured.
Heg:
For thou must know that all things bow before
the Three Supernals. The first Course is Sacred, but in the midst thereof
another, the Third Aerial which cherisheth Earth in Fire and the Fountain
of Fountain, and of all the Fountains. The Matrix containing all, thence
abundantly springing forth the generation of multifarious Matter.
Heg:
Conducts Practicus to foot of the Hierophant's
Throne and hands to the Practicus the Solid Pyramid of the elements.
Hiero:
This Pyramid is attributed to the Four
elements. On the four Triangles are their names, Asch, Fire; Mayim, Water;
Ruach, Air; Aretz, Earth; On the apex is the word Eth, composed of the
first and last letters of the Alphabet and implying Essence. The Square
Base represents the Material Universe, and on it is the word Ohlam,
meaning World. (Places Pyramid aside.) The 28th
Path of Yetzirah, which answereth unto the letter Tzaddi is called the
Natural Intelligence, and it is so called because through it is
consummated and perfected the Nature of every existing being under the Orb
of the Sun. It is therefore the reflection of the Airy Sign of Aquarius,
the Water bearer unto which is attributed the Countenance of the Man, the
Adam, the restored World.
Hiero:
Heg:
Pract:
Move to the West of Altar.
Hiero:
Before you upon the altar is the
17th Key of the Tarot, which symbolically resumes these ideas.
The large Star in the center of the Heavens has seven principal and 14
secondary rays, and thus represents the Heptad multiplied by the Triad
which yields 21 the number of the Divine name, EHEIEH which as you already
know is attached to Kether. In the Egyptian sense it is Sirius, the Dog
Star of Isis Sothis; around it are the Stars of the Seven Planets, each
with its sevenfold counterchanged operation. The nude female figure with
the Star of the Heptagram on her Brow is the synthesis of Isis, of
Nephthys and of Athor. She also represents the Planet Venus, through whose
Sphere the influences of Chesed descend. She is Aima, Binah and Tebunah,
the Great Supernal Mother, Aima Elohim pouring upon the Earth the Waters
of Creation, which unite and form a river at her feet; the river going
forth from the Supernal Eden, which overfloweth and faileth not. Note well
that in this Key she is completely unveiled, while in the 21st
Key, she is only partly so. The two Urns contain the Influences from
Chokmah and Binah. On the right springs the Tree of Life and on the left
the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, whereon the bird of Hermes
alights. And therefore does this Key represent the Restored World after
the Formless and the Void and the Darkness, the New Adam, the Countenance
of the Man which falls in the Sign Aquarius. And therefore doth the
Astronomical symbol of this sign represent as it were, the waves of water,
the ripples of that River going forth out of Eden. But therefore, also it
is justly attributed unto Air and not unto Water, because it is the
Firmament dividing and containing the Waters.
Hierophant and Practicus go to East.
Hiero:
Before you is shown the manner of writing
the Holy Name in each of the four Worlds at length, by giving the spelling
of each letter. You will note that the spelling of the letter Yod alone
alters not. It is a symbol of the unchangeableness of the First Cause. The
total of the spelling in each World, is then expressed in Hebrew letters
and makes the Secret name of that World. Thus, in Atziluth the total is
72, and the Secret name AUB, in Binah 63 SEG, in Yetzirah 45 MAH and in
Assiah 52 BEN. (Indicating the end Tablet.) In the Tablet is
shown the method of writing the Hebrew words by the Yetziratic attribution
of the alphabet, whence result some curious hieroglyphic symbolism. Thus,
Tetragrammaton will be written by Virgo, Aries, Taurus, Aries. Eheieh by
Air, Aries, Virgo, Aries; from Yeheshuah, the Qabalistic mode of spelling
Jesus. which is simply the Tetragrammaton, with the letter Shin placed
therein, we obtain a very peculiar combination; Virgo, Aries, Fire,
Taurus, Aries; Virgo born of a Virgin, Aries the Sacrificial Lamb; Fire
the Fire of the Holy Spirit; Taurus the Ox of Earth, in whose manger he
was laid; and lastly Aries, the flocks of sheep whose herdsmen came to
worship him. Elohim yields Air, Libra, Aries; Virgo, Water; the Firmament,
the Balanced Force, the Fire of the Spirit (for Aries is a fiery sign
operating in the Zodiac) the Virgin Goddess and the Waters of Creation.
Returning to the spelling of Yeheshuah, it is easy to see that the Lamb is
an appropriate symbol of Jesus, from the prevalence of the Aries symbol,
whose Fire is subdued and modified by its other associations.
Hiero:
Returns to his seat.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to West.
Hiereus:
In the Theoricus grade you were shown the
lineal figures attributed to the planets. The figures as shown consist of
the Dekagram, Endekagram and Dodekagram, together with the two forms of
the Enneagram and the remaining forms of the Heptagram and Octogram, which
are not so consonant to the Planet. The Heptagram traced in a continuous
figure, reflected from every third point, relates to the 7 planets. The
Octagram formed of two squares, to the eight lettered Name. The two forms
of the Enneagram refer to the Triple Ternary. The three forms of the
Dekagram relate to the duplicated Heh, to the Ten Sephiroth and to
Malkuth. The three forms of the Endekagram are referred to the Qlippoth.
The four forms of the Dodekagram are referred to the Zodiac, the three
Quaternions of angular, succedent, cadent and movable, fixed and common.
the 4 Triplicities and the 24 thrones of the Elders. (Going to the
second Tablet.) The term Polygon is referred to a figure having
only salient or projecting angles, the term Polygram to a figure having
reentering angles as well. The number of possible modes of tracing the
lineal figures will then be Triangle, 1; Square, 1; Pentangle. 2:
Hexangle, 2; Heptangle. 3; Octangle. 3; Enneangle,4; Dekangle, 4;
Endekangle, 4; Dodekangle, 5.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet in the South.
Heg:
Before you are the Geomantic figures arranged
according to their planetary attribution, in the Tree of Life. You will
note that Saturn represents the three Supernal Sephiroth summed up in
Binah. while Caput and Cauda Draconis are referred to Malkuth.
Hiero:
I have much pleasure in conferring upon you
the title of Lord (Lady) of the 28th Path. You will now quit
the Temple for a short time, and on your return the ceremony of your
passage of the 27th Path will take place.
TEMPLE OFFICERS
Part III
Hierophant: Red Robe, R&W Nemyss, Gold Shoes, White Collar, Lamen, Scepter.
Hiereus: Black Robe, B&W Nemyss, Red Shoes, Red Collar, Lamen, Sword.
Hegemon: White Robe, White Nemyss, Black Collar, Red Shoes, Lamen, Scepter.
Candidate: Black Robe, Red Shoes, Sash.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE ALTAR
2 Red Tapers
Calvary Cross Of 6 Squares
16th Key of
the Tarot
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE TEMPLE
Banners Of The East And West
Temple Pillars
Hebrew
Letters: Mem, Ayin, Peh, Resh, Shin
Alchemical Symbol Of Sulphur On The
Tree Of Life
Tablet Of Trinity Operating Through The
Sephiroth
Tablet Of 7 Yetziratic Palaces in 10 Sephiroth
Tablet Of
Qlippoth With 12 Princes
Enochian Fire Tablet
3 Red
Lamps
Censer
4 Chairs
3 Cups Of Water
3 Small Altars
Part III
(Temple arranged as in diagram. Temple is darkened.)
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon, You have my command to
present the Practicus with the necessary Admission Badge and to admit him
(her).
Heg:
Rises goes to door, opens it, presents
Practicus with Calvary Cross of 10 squares and admits him.
Heg:
The river Kishon swept them away, that
ancient river, the river Kishon, O my soul, thou hast trodden down
Strength.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to south and places him before
the mystic Pillars.
Hiero:
Monokeris de Astris, the Path now Open to
you is the 27th which leads from the Grade of Practicus to the
Grade of Philosophus. Take in your right hand the Calvary cross of 10
Squares, and follow your Guide through the Path of Mars.
Heg:
The Lord is a Man of War, the Lord of Armies
is his Name.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round to foot of the Dais.
Hiero:
Rises with red lamp in his hand.
Hiero:
Ere the Eternal instituted the Formation,
Beginning and End existed not. Therefore, before Him, he expanded a
certain Veil, and therein has instituted the Primal Kings. And these are
the Kings who reigned in Edom before there reigned a King over Israel but
they subsisted not. When the Earth was formless and void; behold this is
the reign of Edom; and when Creation was established, lo this is the reign
of Israel. And the Wars of Titanic Force in the Chaos of Creation, lo
these are the Wars between them. From a Light Bearer of insupportable
brightness proceeded a radiating Flame, hurling forth like a vast and
mighty hammer those sparks which were the primal Worlds. And these Sparks
flamed and scintillated awhile, but being unbalanced they were
extinguished. Since lo, the Kings assembled, they passed away together.
They themselves beheld, so were they astonished, they feared, they hasted
away. And these be the Kings who reigned in Edom, before there reigned a
King over Israel.
Heg:
Leads Practicus round the Temple and again
halts before Dais.
Hiereus:
Rises with red lamp in his hand.
Hiereus:
The Dukes of Edom were amazed, trembling
took hold of the Mighty of Moab. Lord
Heg:
Leads Practicus round and halts at Dais as
before. Ascends Dais and takes red lamp in his hand.
Heg:
O Lord I have heard Thy Speech and was
afraid. The Voice of the Lord is upon the Waters; the God of Glory
thundered, the Lord is upon many Waters. The Voice of the Lord is
powerful, the Voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The Voice of the Lord
breaketh the Cedars, yea, the Lord breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon. The
Voice of the Lord divideth the Flames of Fire. The Voice of the Lord
shaketh the Wilderness, yea, the Lord shaketh the Wilderness of Kadesh.
Heg:
Places Candidate in a seat in West of Altar
and facing East and takes Calvary Cross from him, returns to place.
Hiero:
Eloah came from Teman of Edom, and the Holy
One from Mount Paran. His Glory covered the Heavens, and the Earth was
full of His praise, and His brightness was as the Light. He had Karnaim in
his hands, and there was the hiding of his Power. Before him went the
Pestilence and Flaming Fire went forth at his feet. He stood and measured
the Earth. He beheld and drove asunder the nations and the everlasting
Mountains were scattered and the perpetual Hills did bow, His ways are
everlasting. I saw the tents of: Cushan in affliction and the curtains of
the land of Midian did tremble. Was the Lord displeased against the
rivers? Was thine anger against the Rivers? Was thy wrath against the Sea,
that thou didst ride upon thine horses and Thy chariots of Salvation? Thou
didst cleave asunder the Earth with the Rivers. The Mountains saw Thee and
they trembled; the Deluge of Waters rolled by; the Deep uttered his Voice
and lifted up his hands on high. The Sun and the Moon stood still in their
habitation; at the light of thine arrows they went; at the shining of thy
glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation. Thou
didst thresh the heathen in thine anger. Thou didst march through the Sea
with Thine horses, through the Depth of the mighty Waters.
Heg:
Conducts Practicus to Hierophant and hands to
Practicus the Calvary Cross. Lights turned up.
Heg:
The Calvary Cross of 10 squares refers to the
10 Sephiroth in balanced disposition, before which the formless and the
void rolled back. It also is the opened out form of the double Cube, and
of the Altar of Incense. (Places cross aside.) The
27th Path of the Sepher Yetzirah which answereth unto the
letter Peh is called the Exciting Intelligence, and it is so called
because by it is created the Intellect of all created beings under the
highest Heaven and the excitement of the motion of them. It is, therefore,
the reflection of the Sphere of Mars, and the reciprocal Path connecting
Netzach with Hod, Victory with Splendor; it is the lowermost of the three
reciprocal Paths.
Hiero:
Heg:
Pract:
Move to the West of Altar.
Heg:
Before you upon the Altar is the
16th Key of the Tarot which symbolically resumes these Ideas.
It represents a Tower struck by a lightening Flash, proceeding from a
rayed circle and terminating in a Triangle. It is the Tower of Babel
struck by the Fire from Heaven. It is to be noted that the Triangle at the
end of the Flash issuing from the circle forms exactly the astrological
symbol of Mars. It is the power of the Triad rushing down and destroying
the Columns of Darkness. Three holes are rent in the walls, symbolizing
the establishment of the Triad therein, and the Crown at the summit of the
Tower is falling, as the Crowns of the Kings of Edom fell, who are also
symbolized by the men falling headlong. On the right hand side of the
Tower is Light, and the representation of the Tree of Life by the ten
circles thus disposed. On the left hand side is Darkness and eleven
circles, symbolizing the Qlippoth.
Hiero:
Heg:
Pract:
Move to the Tablet in the
East.
Heg:
This represents the Alchemical symbol of
Sulphur on the Tree of Life. It does not touch the 4 lower Sephiroth. The
Cross terminates in Tiphareth, whereby as it were the Supernal Triangle is
to be grasped, and Tiphareth is the purified Man. The meaning of the
Alchemical Symbol of Mercury was explained to you in the previous Grade.
The symbol of Salt embraces all the Sephiroth but Malkuth, and is as it
were, the reconciler between the Sulphur and the Mercury. The horizontal
dividing line implies the precept of Hermes as above, so below.
Hiero:
Resumes his place.
Hiereus:
Heg:
Pract:
Move to the Tablets in
the West.
Hiereus:
This Tablet represents the Trinity
operating through the Sephiroth, and reflected downwards in the four
Triangles of the Elements, through the Tree of Life. Notice that Air is
reflected from Kether through Tiphareth to Yesod. Water is reflected from
Binah through Chesed to Hod; and Fire is reflected from Chokmah through
Geburah to Netzach. While Malkuth is Earth, the receptacle of the other
three. On this second Tablet is the Image of Nebuchadnezar, whose head was
of Gold, the breast and the arms of Silver, the belly and thighs of Brass,
the legs of Iron, the feet part of Iron and part of Clay. In his hands are
represented the Hot and Moist Natures.
Heg:
Conducts Practicus to Tablet of Yetziratic
Palaces in the South.
Heg:
These are the Seven Yetziratic Palaces,
containing the 10 Sephiroth. In each Palace are the six letters from the
Divine Name of 42 letters. Thus, the Name of 42 letters has been taken
from the 42 first letters of the History of Creation, as far as Beth of
the word "Bohu" by various transmutations which are described at length in
the Sepher Pardes.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet in North.
Heg:
These are the Qlippoth with their 12 Princes,
who are the heads of the 12 months of the year. In the central square are
placed Samael and Asmodai. At the South East are the Man, the Serpent and
the Elder Lilith, the wife of Samael. At the North East angle are the Ox
and the Ass, the Aggareth, the Daughter of Machalath. At the North West
angle are the Scorpion and Asimon the unnamed One, and Nehemah. And at the
South West are the Lion and the Horse, the Younger Lilith, the Wife of
Asmodai.
Hiero:
I have much pleasure in conferring upon you
the title of Lord (Lady) of the 27th Path. You will now quit
the Temple for a short time, and on your return the Ceremony of your
reception in the Grade of Philosophus will take place.
TEMPLE OFFICERS
Part IV
Hierophant: Red Robe, R&W Nemyss, Gold Shoes, White Collar, Lamen, Scepter.
Hiereus: Black Robe, B&W Nemyss, Red Shoes, Red Collar, Lamen, Sword.
Hegemon: White Robe, White Nemyss, Black Collar, Red Shoes, Lamen, Scepter.
Candidate: Black Robe, Red Shoes, Sash.
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE ALTAR
3 Red Lamps
White Triangle And Red Cross
Calvary Cross Of 6
Squares
Diagrams Of Eden Before And After The Fall
Lamen Of 6
Squared Calvary Cross
REQUIRED MATERIALS
FOR THE TEMPLE
Banners Of The East And West
Temple Pillars
Hebrew
Letters: Kaph, Nun, Peh, Tzaddi, Qoph
Kamea And Sigils Of
Venus
Diagram Of Tree Of Life With Daath
Diagram Of Tree Of Life In
Four Worlds
Burnt Offering
Diagram Of Brazen Sea
Enochian Fire
Tablet
3 Red Lamps
Censer
4 Chairs
3 Cups Of Water
3 Small
Altars
Part IV
ADVANCEMENT CEREMONY OF PHILOSOPHUS
Hiero:
Honored Hegemon instruct the Practicus in
the proper alarm, present him with the necessary admission badge and admit
him. (Hegemon goes without and instructs the Practicus to give an alarm of
7 Knocks. Hegemon then admits Practicus.) In the North West are the
Portals of the 29th and 28th Paths by which you have
symbolically entered this Grade from the Zelator and Theoricus Grades,
respectively, while in the North is the Portal of the 27th
Path, by which you have just passed from the Grade of Practicus.
Heg:
Leads Practicus forward to
Hiereus.
Hiereus:
By what symbol dost thou enter herein?
Heg:
By the peculiar emblem of the Hegemon, which
is the Calvary Cross of 6 squares within a circle.
Hiereus:
This Cross embraces as you see Tiphareth,
Netzach, Hod and Yesod and rests upon Malkuth. The surrounding circle
includes Chesed, Geburah and Malkuth. Also the Calvary Cross of 6 squares
forms the cube, and is thus referred to the 6 Sephiroth of Microprosopus,
which are Chesed, Geburah, Tiphareth, Netzach, Hod and Yesod.
Heg:
Resumes his seat.
Hiero:
Moves to West of Altar.
Hiero:
This is the symbolic representation of the
Fall. For the Great Goddess who in the Practicus Grade was supporting the
columns of the Sephiroth in the form of the Sign of Theoricus being
tempted by the Tree of Knowledge (whose branches indeed, tend upward into
the Seven lower Sephiroth, but also tend downwards into the Kingdom of the
Shells) reached down into the Qlippoth, and immediately the columns were
unsupported, and the Sephirotic system was shattered, and with it fell
Adam, the Microprosopus. Then arose the Great Dragon with 7 heads and 10
horns, and the Garden was made desolate, and Malkuth was cut off from the
upper Sephiroth by his intersecting folds, and linked unto the Kingdom of
the Shells, and the 7 lower Sephiroth were cut from the three Supernal in
Daath; at the feet of Aima Elohim. And on the heads of the Dragon are the
Names and Crowns of the eight Edomite Kings, and upon the horns are the
names of the 11 Dukes of Edom. And because in DAATH was the utmost rise of
the Great Serpent of Evil, therefore is there as it were, another Sephira,
making eight heads according to the number of the 8 Kings. And for the
Infernal and Averse Sephiroth 11 instead of 10, according to the number of
the Dukes of Edom. And hence were the Rivers of Eden desecrated, and from
the mouth of the Dragon rushed the Infernal Waters in DAATH. And this is
Leviathan, the piercing Serpent, even Leviathan, the Crooked Serpent. But
between the devastated Garden and the Supernal Eden, Tetragrammaton Elohim
placed the letters of the Name and the Flaming Sword, that the uppermost
part of the Tree of Life might not be involved in the Fall of Adam. And
thence was it necessary that the Second Adam should come to restore all
things and that the First Adam had been extended on the Cross of the
Celestial Rivers, so the Son should be crucified on the Cross of the
Infernal Rivers in Daath. Yet to do this he must descend unto the lowest
first even unto Malkuth and be born of her. The Grade of Philosophus is
referred unto the Sephira Netzach and the 27th,
28th, and 29th Paths are bound thereto. The Sign of
the Grade is given by raising the arms above the head making with the
thumbs and fingers a triangle apex upwards. This represents the element of
Fire, to which this Grade is attributed, and also the Spirit which moved
upon the Waters of Creation. The Grip or Token is the general grip of the
First Order. The Grand Word is a name of nine letters Tetragrammaton
Tzabaoth, which means the Lard of Armies. The mystic number is 28 and from
it is formed the Pass Word of the Grade which is Koch (Kaph, Cheth)
meaning Power. It should be lettered separately when given. Unto this
Grade and unto the Sephira Netzach, the 7th Path of the Sepher
Yetzirah is referred. It is called the Recondite Intelligence and it is so
called because it is the Refulgent Splendor of all the intellectual
Virtues which are perceived by the Eyes of the Mind and by the
contemplation of Faith. The distinguishing badge of this Grade, which you
will now be entitled to wear, is the sash of a Practicus, with the
addition of a bright green cross above the violet cross and the numbers 4
and 7 within a circle and a square respectively left and right of its
summit, and below the number 37, the numbers 27, 28 and 29 in bright green
between narrow parallel lines of the same color. This Grade is especially
referred unto the element of Fire and therefore the Great Watch Tower or
Terrestrial Tablet of the South forms one of its principal emblems.
Hiero:
Pract:
Move to the South.
Hiero:
It is known as the fourth or great Southern
Quadrangle, or Tablet of Fire and it is one of the four Great Tablets
delivered unto Enoch by the Great Angel Ave. From it are drawn the 3 Great
Holy Secret Names of God OIP TEEA PDOCE which are borne upon the Banners
of the South, and the numberless Divine and Angelic names which appertain
unto the Element of Fire. The meaning of the other Tablets have been
already explained to you.
Hiero:
Pract:
Move to the Altar.
Hiero:
The triangle surmounting the cross upon the
Altar, represents the Fire of the Spirit surmounting the cross of Life and
of the Waters of Eden. You will note that it thus forms the alchemical
emblem of Sulphur. The red lamps at the angles of the triangles are the
three fold forms of Fire.
Hiero:
Pract:
Proceed to the East.
Hiero:
The Portals in the East and North East
conduct to the Higher. The others are those of the Paths you have already
traversed. This Grade is also related to the Planet Venus. Its Kamea or
mystical square is formed of 49 squares containing the numbers from 1 to
49 arranged so as to show the same sum each way. The ruling numbers are 7,
49, 175 and 1252. This Tablet (indicating it) shows the
mystical Names and Seals drawn from the Kamea of Venus. The Seals are
formed by lines drawn from and to, certain numbers upon the Square. The
name answering to 7 is AHA, that answering to 49 is HAGIEL, the
Intelligence of Venus; that answering to 175 is Qedemei the Spirit of
Venus and lastly that answering to 1252 is BENI SERAPHIM the name of the
Intelligence of Venus. On this Tablet is shown the meaning of the symbol
of Venus on the Tree of Life. It embraces all the Sephiroth, and is
therefore the fitting symbol of the Isis of Nature. Hence also its circle
is always represented larger than that of Mercury.
Hiero:
Resumes his seat.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Hiereus.
Heg:
Hiereus:
Pract:
Move to West.
Hiereus:
On this Tablet (indicating
it) are shown the Paths when arranged with DAATH added to the
Sephirotic Tree. It differs from the other and more usual attributions.
Furthermore it is not so correct, as Daath is not properly speaking, a
Sephira. On this Tablet (indicating it) is shown the
arrangement of the Sephiroth in the Four Worlds, each Sephira with its own
10 Sephiroth inscribed inside, so that the total number is 400, the number
of Tau the last letter of the alphabet.
Hiereus:
Resumes his place.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet in South.
Heg:
This is the symbolism of the Altar of Burnt
Offering which King Solomon built. It was formed of a four-fold cube, 20
cubits square and 10 feet high, 10 are the principal parts which you here
see classified above, as under the Sephiroth, and forming thus the
Triangle of Fire above it.
Heg:
Leads Practicus to Tablet in North.
Heg:
This is the symbolism of the Brazen Sea,
which King Solomon made. It was 10 cubits diameter answering to the
Sephiroth; the height was 5 cubits the number of the letter Heh. 30 cubits
was its circumference, the 10 cubits multiplied by the Ternary. Beneath
the rim were 300 knots, the number of the Holy letter Shin and of the name
Ruach Elohim and it stood upon the 12 oxen, answering to the 12 Stars of
the Crown of Aima, the Great Mother. It is the synthesis of Binah,
containing the Waters of Creation.
Heg:
Places Candidate in a seat in West facing
Hierophant.
Hiero:
Returns to place.
Hiero:
I now congratulate you, Honored Frater
(Soror) on having passed through the ceremony of Philosophus and in
recognition thereof, I confer upon you the Mystic title of Pharos
Illuminans, which means the illuminating Tower of Light and I give you the
symbol of ASCH, which is the Hebrew word for Fire. And as having attained
at length unto the highest Grade of the First Order, and being as it were,
the connecting link with the Second Order, I further confer upon you the
title of respect of Honored Frater(Soror) and I give you the further
symbol of Phrath or Euphrates, the 4th River.
Hiero:
(Knocks) In the Name of
Tetragrammaton Tzabaoth, I now proclaim that you have been duly advanced
to the Grade of Philosophus and that you are Lord (Lady) of the
27th, 28th and 29th Paths.
Hiereus:
Honored Frater, as a member of this
important Grade, you are eligible for the post of Hiereus. When a vacancy
occurs you are furthermore expected, as having risen so high in the Order,
to aid to your utmost the members of the Second Order in the working of
the Temple to which you are attached. To study thoroughly the mysteries
which have been unfolded to your view, in your progress from the humble
position of a Neophyte. So that yours may be not the merely superficial
knowledge which marks the conceited and ignorant man, but that you may
really and thoroughly understand what you profess to know, and not by your
ignorance and folly bring disgrace on that Order which has honored you so
far. Your duty is also to supervise the studies of weaker and less
advanced brethren, and to make yourself as far as possible an ornament
alike to your Temple and to your Order.
CLOSING
Hiero:
(Knocks) Honored Fraters and Sorors,
assist me to close the Temple in the Grade of Philosophus. Honored
Hegemon, see that the Temple is properly guarded.
(Done.)
Heg:
(Knocks) Very Honored Hierophant the
Temple is properly guarded.
Hiero:
Let us adore the Lord and King of Fire.
(Knocks)
All face East.
Hiero:
Tetragrammaton of Hosts, Mighty and
Terrible; the Commander of the Ethereal Armies art Thou. Amen.
All salute.
Hiero:
Quits his throne and goes to Tablet of Fire
in South.
All face South.
Hiero:
Let us rehearse the prayer of the
Salamanders or Fire Spirits. (Knocks) Immortal, Eternal,
Ineffable and uncreated Father of All, borne upon the Chariot of Worlds,
which ever roll in ceaseless motion. Ruler over the Ethereal Vastness,
where the Throne of Thy Power is raised from the summit of which Thine
eyes behold all, and Thy pure and Holy ears hear all, help us thy
children, whom thou hast loved since the Birth of the Ages of Time. Thy
Majesty Golden, Vast and Eternal, shineth above the Heaven of Stars; above
them art Thou exalted, O Thou Flashing Fire. There Thou illuminateth all
things with Thine insupportable Glory, whence flow the ceaseless streams
of splendor which nourish Thine Infinite Spirit. This Infinite Spirit
nourisheth all, and maketh that inexhaustable treasure of generation which
ever encompasseth Thee, replete with the numberless forms wherewith Thou
hast filled it from the beginning. From this Spirit arise those most Holy
Kings, who are around Thy Throne and who compose Thy court. O Universal
Father! One and Alone! Father alike of Immortals and of Mortals! Thou hast
especially created Powers similar unto Thy thought Eternal and unto Thy
venerable Essence. Thou hast established them above the Angels who
announce Thy Will to the World. Lastly, thou hast created us as a Third
Order in our Elemental Empire. There our continual exercise is to praise
and to adore Thy desires. There we ceaselessly burn with Eternal
Aspiration unto Thee O Father, O Mother of Mothers, O Archetype Eternal of
Maternity and of Love, O Son, the flower of all Sons, Form of all forms,
Soul, Spirit, Harmony and Numeral of all Things. Amen.
Hiero:
Making with his scepter the banishing Circle
and Pentagram in the air in front of the Tablet.
Hiero:
Depart ye in peace unto your abodes and
habitations. May the blessing of Elohim be upon you. Be there ever peace
between us and you and be ye ready to come when ye are called.
(Knocks)
Hiero:
Returns to place.
All face East.
Hiero:
In the Name of Tetragrammaton Tzabaoth, I
declare This Temple closed in the Grade of Philosophus.
Hiero:
(Knocks 3, 3, 1)
Hiereus:
(Knocks 3, 3, 1)
Heg:
(Knocks 3. 3, 1)
