Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of
the Lord.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him
with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his
ways.
Thou hast commanded me to keep thy precepts diligently. 0
that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I
not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy
commandments.
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have
learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes. 0
forsake me not utterly!
Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and the number 1; it is representative of the secret God-power manifesting in man, and correlates with the first Tarot card of the Major Arcana. This card shows the Master or Magus, the Wise One, who is described in the early chapters of Genesis as man made in the image and likeness of God — the supreme ideal toward which all the spiritual philosophers of the world have ever aspired.
We have stated previously that the Path of Initiation is divided into three parts, the parts denoting the three classes of disciples- first, the Neophytes; second, the Disciples; third, those who have been found worthy to part the veil and enter the Holy of Holies, the Initiates. In many schools the threefold divisions are named Studentship, Probationship and Discipleship; Initiation being the full flowering of the third degree.
In the 119th Psalm, the opening invocation to the Divine Principle represented by Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, we hear the voice of the Neophyte making supplication as he dedicates his life to God, "Blessed are the undefiled who walk in the law of the Lord . . . Blessed are they which keep his testimonies and seek him with the whole heart ... I will keep thy statues; O forsake me not."
I AM the Light that permeates all creation. I AM Life
Universal. I AM Love Eternal. I AM all the Power that is, both
manifest and unmanifest.
Aleph speaks of the First Commandment, "I am the Lord
which have brought thee out of the house of bondage. Thou
shalt have no other gods before me."
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking
heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee; 0 let me not
wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in my
heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thy statutes.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy
mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much
as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect
unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes? I will not
forget thy Word.
Beth is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The number two signifies balance and equilibrium. Beth correlates with the second Tarot card of the major Arcanum. Perfect balance is represented by the High Priestess who sits upon a throne between two perfectly proportioned columns-one white, the other black. She is partially veiled, which suggests the mystery surrounding the high feminine principle, both in man and nature. It is something of this divine mystery which always radiates from the Divine Feminine that is felt as a strange fascination, on the spiritual planes as well as on the physical. The Divine Feminine is the wisdom Principle, hid behind a veil. In the invocation of Beth we hear the voice of the neophyte who stands before the veil and prays that he may behold Truth face to face.
The two columns, one black and one white, are those which stood before the portals of every Mystery Temple the world has ever known. To the esotericist they reveal the true meaning of polarity-that the two cosmic principles are equal throughout the universe, on all planes of manifestation. These are the Jachin and Boaz of Masonry; but the majority of the Jachin disciples do not as yet understand this divine truth. There can never be a New Age on this planet until equality between man and woman has been fully demonstrated upon all planes, for Truth-the sacred Glory which hides behind the veil — is no respecter of persons. "With my whole heart have I sought thee — O let me not wander from thy commandments ... I will meditate in thy precepts and have respect unto thy ways."
David, the Initiate, knew well the truth of the words: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word." The power of love is vested in self-control-Aleph and Beth-the two columns of the Temple gate. "Thy Word which I hide in my heart that I might not sin against thee. " A supreme dedication of the life lies in his words: "I will delight myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy Word."
I AM the great harmonizer, the unifying Force which
underlies all creation. In the house not made with hands I hold
the cosmic pattern of all forms on earth.
Beth relates to the Second Commandment: "Thou shalt not
make thyself any graven image."
Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live and keep
thy Word. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous
things out of thy law.
I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments
from me. My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy
judgments at all times.
Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err
from thy commandments. Remove from me reproach and
contempt: for I have kept thy testimonies.
Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did
meditate in thy statutes. Thy testimonies also are my delight
and my counsellors.
Gimel and the third Tarot card represent the Empress. The symbolism shows that "the Mother of the Universe" means Mother Nature and the laws which bring order out of chaos in the created universe. The symbol of the planet Venus nearby shows that she is also called Venus-Urania, or Iris-Urania. There is a harmony of natures between the planets Venus and Uranus; but the full force of Uranus will not be felt until the Aquarian Age dawns, although its energizing and revolutionary influence is already apparent. Mankind stands on the threshold of the Aquarian Age; when the threshold is crossed, mysteries of space yet undreamed of will be revealed, and secrets of life for which there are as yet no words adequate to describe them.
The Empress sits upon a throne in the glow of a great sun and with the crescent moon under her feet; near her is the symbol of Venus. She wears a crown of twelve stars, which conveys the promise of conscious and uninterrupted communion with the Divine Hierarchies, the twelve signs of the zodiac. Upon her right hand is the eagle, the king of birds, which flies closer to the sun than any other bird. This Tarot conveys the message that Truth knows no limits, has no circumference, is all-powerful.
The Empress is the Woman Clothed with the Sun of the Book of Revelation. Gimel, or Three, signifies the Triad of Divine Force which is the basis of creation, the Trinity of the West and the Trimurti of the East, the Three First Sephiroth of the Kabballah; the three Principles known as Will, Wisdom and Activity as they manifest throughout the universe and also in the human spirit.
All of this is exemplified in the eight stanzas led by Gimel "Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors." "Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from Thy commandments." "Open Thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderful things out of Thy Law."
Mine is the Power that ensouls all forms with Light. The secret of this Light no man may know until the coming of the Perfect Day when the Face of Truth is unveiled.
Gimel reminds us of the Third Commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain."
My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according
to thy word. I have declared may ways, and thou heardst me:
teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy
precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according
to thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me
thy law graciously.
I have chosen the way of truth; thy judgments have I laid
before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: 0 Lord, put me
not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when
thou shalt enlarge my heart.
In these eight stanzas, led by Daleth, we see that a door is before the neophyte, and he waits for it to open, "My soul cleaveth to the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. Make me understand the way of thy precepts; so shall I talk of thy wondrous works ... I have chosen the Way of Truth . . . I will run the way of thy commandments when thou shalt enlarge my heart."
Four is the number of the Cubic Stone, which is the title of the fourth Tarot. The cube occurs often in the Tarot series, and it is of the profoundest importance in Mystic Masonry. The cube upon which the Mystic Mason works is himself. When it is opened out it is a Cross, and the Cross is the Doorway to Life Eternal.
Therefore the youthful Pharaoh on his cubic throne wears the White Crown and holds the Scepter of Life. One leg is crossed over the other. On his breast is a snow-white dove, showing that he has attained through self-immolation and purity. He has conquered materiality toward which his left hand points. Sometimes he is called the Emperor. He images forth the words of St. Paul, "Now abideth Faith, Hope and Love; but the greatest of these is Love." Self-conquest has transformed the emotion of Love into a Power of Love in the hands of the Spirit. The Uraeus serpent on the front of the crown signifies the great wisdom attained when the spinal spirit fire force is raised up.
In the psalmist's supplication for Daleth, the dedication is made for all time to the spiritual life. A high point on the Path is reached when one is ready to make this dedication which applies not merely to the current life but to all lives that are to come. It is the strong soul that can make this dedication, this ultimate dedication, to the things of Spirit.
Daleth reminds us of the Fourth Commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy."
Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I
shall keep
it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy
law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for
therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and
not to covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken
thou me in thy way. Establish thy word unto thy
servant, who is
devoted to thy fear.
Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are
good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in
thy righteousness.
The letter He-E or H-though only the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, is one of the supremely important letters because it occurs twice in the Sacred Tetragrammaton, as we have seen. It represents the Cosmic Feminine in two phases or aspects, The Double Shekinah Glory, which is close to the human spirit and is in a real sense its Mother, and the Exalted Feminine which is the Shekinah Glory on the highest cosmic planes, Theo-Sophia of the Greeks.
The fifth Tarot shows the Initiate-Priest, Master of the Arcanum, sometimes called the Pope, seated on his throne between the two columns, holding in his left hand the long cross with three cross-bars and upon his head the white Uraeus headdress which symbolizes the raising up of the fire-force and achievement of at-one-ment with the Deity within. He makes the sign known as the papal blessing with the right hand, which is a sign of true esoteric knowledge and power. At his feet kneel two devotees, garbed in red and in white, symbol of service and understanding, of the inner hidden mysteries. This show us that the true mission of the Initiate-Priest is to share the inner or esoteric secrets of his ministry with all who prove themselves ready and worthy to receive them, It is significant that for the first three centuries of our era none but an Initiate was deemed worthy to sit in the chair of St. Peter.
In the Egyptian Tarot the Initiate-Priest is the High Priest of Isis, but the symbology is similar to that of other systems.
The High Priest corresponds to Melchizedek of the Bible story. Melchizedek was the title of a dynasty of priest-kings whose ancestry went back to Atlantis. The last Melchizdek gave to Abram, the first leader of the present Fifth Root Race, the deeply mystic secrets of the Rite of the Eucharist. These secrets were passed in turn to Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; to Moses and Joshua; to David and Solomon for use in the Temple; and finally they descended into the hands of Christ Jesus, who taught them to the Disciples in the "Upper Room" just before the Crucifixion. The key to the right use of the Rite of the Holy Eucharist is the conservation of the life force, which is symbolized in the Bread. This life force, impregnating the Bread, enabled the Disciples to heal the sick and the erring when each evening they took portions of the sacred host to all in need, and legend has it that many were healed when they had but looked upon the Bread.
The Mystery of the Double Feminine was the central teaching of the ancient Priest-Kings of Atlantis. The Zohar says that the Shekinah Glory abode in the tent of Sarah, and when Abraham saw it there he knew that God was with him in his battles and trials.
The words of the Fifth Commandment, "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother," when taken mystically refer to honoring the dual principles of Godhead within oneself. The great work of Initiation is to bring the dual forces into equilibrium or perfect harmony. When this has been achieved the Initiate has become the Adept, able to create for himself deathless bodies in which he may live as an immortal, a god among gods.
"Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of thy statutes, and I shall keep it unto the end."
Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy
salvation , according to thy word. So shall 1 have wherewith to
answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And
take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for
I have
hoped in thy judgments.
So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I
will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy
testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I
have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy
commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy
statutes.
Vau or Vav is the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Six is a Venusian number and it expresses Love, Harmony and Light. It is also a number of attainment through action inspired by love. Although it is one of the even or "feminine" numbers in order of procession, it is considered by kabbalists to be a supremely masculine number, and the love which it expresses is the Love of God. The two Hs in the Tetragrammaton (JHVH) show forth the Double Feminine, the Higher and Lower Shekinah, but the Vau is the second masculine letter, Jod being the first.
The sixth of the Tarot cards represents the Two Ways. A youth stands between two maidens. Each has a hand on his shoulder, urging him to go her way. The maiden on his right wears a Uraeus crown; the one on his left a crown made of the leaves of the grapevine. They typify what is known as the Way of Virtue and the Way of Vice.
To this place upon the highroad of destiny every man must come, time after time and life after life, until spirit is supreme.
In one Tarot series the sixth card shows Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam stands before the Tree of Life and Eve before the Tree of Good and Evil, round the trunk of which a serpent twines.
Over the human figures of the sixth card hovers a great being. Sometimes it is Hermes or Mercury. In the Egyptian series it is a Genii — or Genius — but always this figure represents the immutable and unalterable law of retributive justice. He carries a bow and arrow which is pointed toward the maiden at the left, implying that if her path is chosen the ultimate consequences may well be seen in the sixteenth card known as the Tower of Destruction, where there is only confusion, upheaval, destruction and final annihilation. If the right-hand Path be chosen, its consequences may be traced in the nineteenth card, which is known as The Sun or the Dazzling Light. There we see a youth and maiden in a beautiful garden — but now there is no Tree of Good and Evil. The young couple are enfolded in a glow of golden light from the great sun which illumines all the heavens and the surrounding landscape It is here that the lower man has been completely subjugated and the higher powers reign supreme.
Temptation is a tremendous factor in soul growth. One never realizes his own strength until he has been tempted and tried. It is for this reason that the Temptation is so powerfully portrayed in the initiatory ritual which we know as the life-story of Christ Jesus. The Bible states, "Although He was tempted, He remained without sin." This is the ideal which He left for the emulation of all mankind.
In Wagner's glorious opera Parsifal we find the nearest modern version of this story. Parsifal came as a youth to the Grail Castle, there to study the immortal precepts of Truth from the wise Guernemanz, teacher of the Grail Knights. After a period of training he was sent forth to be tempted and tried in the outer world. There he met the beautiful flower maidens, but true to the ideals given by the Lord Christ, though tempted, he remained without sin. Later lie was found worthy to return to the Grail Castle to become the Teacher of the Knights and Guardian of the Holy Grail.
In the 119th Psalm the prayer for the letter Vau is the high
and beautiful affirmation of those who have attained first-hand
knowledge, for whom there is now no faltering and whose
dedication is secure for all time to come.
"So shall I keep thy precepts for ever and ever. And I shall
walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy
testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed."
Vau speaks of the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not
kill," for V is the letter of Life.
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast
caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy
Word hath quickened me.
The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not
declined thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, 0 Lord;
and have comforted myself.
Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked
that forsake thy law.
Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my
pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name, 0 Lord, in the night,
and have kept thy law. This I had, because I kept thy precepts.
The Hebrew letter Zain implies Victory.
Seven is the number which represents an interval of rest after a long period of difficult and arduous work and accomplishment. The Lord God created the heavens and the earth and He rested on the seventh day. However, rest in its highest sense does not mean inaction but rather a complete at-one-ment with that which has been produced or made manifest.
The seventh Tarot card of the Egyptian series shows us the cubic chariot, in which the Victor rides. It is called the Chariot of Osiris. Here is one who has attained to mastership, standing in his cube-shaped chariot, which is attached to two sphinxes, one black and one white, which crouch at rest. The cube always denotes successful accomplishment after long and difficult labor.
The sphinxes rest in perfect relaxation, indicating that the evil forces both in man and in nature have been completely subjugated and that the Initiate now lives, moves and has his being in perfect at-one-ment with the powers of All-Good.
Upon the chest of the charioteer we see the three symbolic T-squares, representing Strength, Discrimination and Self-Control or spiritualized Will. The cuirass is again reminiscent of the breastplate of the Hebrew High Priest. On his head he wears tile familiar Uraeus Crown of Egypt. The lotuses adorning the chariot show the balanced masculine and feminine powers of the Master. In modern terminology this represents the Christing of the Mind. The sword which he holds shows that lie is the Victorious One. He holds the scepter of Initiate Power. Upon the scepter is a square surmounted by a circle surmounted by a triangle, emblematic of Matter, Eternity and Divinity — the World. Spirit and God.
The star-decked canopy over the chariot and charioteer is supported on four columns, which are the Four Elements. This shows us the Initiate's power to pass through Earth, Air, Water and Fire unharmed, and to enter at will into the very heart of the planet as he gives himself in service for all God's living creatures.
Upon the front of the chariot is one of the most meaningful of the symbols belonging to ancient Egypt. This is the Winged Sphere, whose deep significance belongs to thee Man of the Aquarian Age who will investigate the wonders of trackless space and become, in literal fact, rover among the farthest stars.
This brings us to the end of the first septenary. The ideal of man "made in the image and likeness of' God" was given by means of the first Tarot card, the Magus, and the first Hebrew letter, Aleph, while in the seventh Tarot card, the Chariot, and the seventh Hebrew letter, Zain, we find the victorious mankind in whom this ideal has become real, or, in familiar terminology, the pioneers of the New Aquarian Age, so soon to dawn.
"Number Seven is the festival day of all the earth, the birthday of the world. I know not whether anyone would be able to celebrate the number Seven in adequate terms" (The Secret Doctrine).
The prayer of the Hebrew letter Zain sounds the same high spiritual keynote as does the number seven, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name 0 Lord, in the night and have kept thy law."
Zain represents the power which is attained by the mastery of the four elements, Fire, Air, Water and Earth. The development of the fourfold power within himself gives the disciple mastery over all important earth processes, and he becomes known as a miracle worker. The letter Zain means, in deed and in truth, the Victorious One.
Zain teaches the lesson of purity in selfless love. The Seventh Commandment reads, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." The defilement of the love potencies of the body, soul and mind are a sin not only against the Holy Spirit of God but against that holy spirit which we call the spirit of man, the true or Virgin Spirit which is man in the likeness of God.
— Corinne Heline
