But in this Card we are able to trace the symbolism of the Divine Breath of Kether, not whispering the Work in Chokmah, but coming to us through the Trumpet of the Sun, ever proclaiming the Brightness of the Lord and Giver of Life to all men.
And this Trumpet is the Horn that is exhalted for ever. The Path combines the Mysteries of the Death and Resurrection as shown in "The Sun"; and the Erection and Re-erection of "The Devil" with the Generation and Regeneration of the Spirit.
As shown in "Q. B. L.," Shin represents the Roots of the Elements, the essences of Kether, Chokmah and Binah, concentrated in Tiphereth. It also represents "Number," the first of the Three Creative Sepharim of the Sepher Yetzirah.
Having dealt with the most direct influences descending upon Tiphereth, and we must next consider the supporting Pillars and the indirect influences through Chesed and Geburah.
Let us take the Path from Chokmah to Chesed, and then follow the one from Chesed to Tiphereth, thus completing the Right side first.
The Key to the Influence between Chokmah and Chesed is called "Temperance" and is attributed to the Sign Sagittarius. A Figure is seen pouring fluid from one urn to another. It represents "Preservation," as opposed to the "Destruction" of the Path of the "Blasted Tower" on the opposite side, while the equilibrated Path in the Center is that of "Creation" and "Regeneration" as before noticed.
Sagittarius is the Sign symbolized by the Archer who is half man, half horse. The Horse is said to be the gift to man of the Goddess of Wisdom, viz.: Chokmah. This Sign is Ruled by Jupiter and it receives the Influence of the Path of IU-Pater through Chokmah. It is also connected directly with the Sphere of Jupiter or Chesed. This gives us some indication of the dual-symbolism of the Forces of Life in the two Urns held by the figure on the Card. We may also glimpse some idea of the Ascending and Descending Arrows of the AA or IU. Again we have the ascent and descent of the Wheel of Life or Zodiac which revolves, so to speak, as Chokmah, between the two Jupiterial influences.
The Figure is clothed in Red and Blue, for Chokmah is the "Root of Fire" and Chesed the "Sphere of Water." It stands on Water, or Chesed, but the Robe immediately above the Water is Red, for Sagittarius is a Fiery Sign.
In Rider's Pack we actually see a "Path and a Sun" to the left of the Figure, just where the Path of the Sun comes in this arrangement. The Sign of Fire is on the Breast of the Figure, above which is faintly seen the Hebrew IHVH, the Word of the Father, Chokmah.
Chesed is the Sephira of Mercy (opposed to that of Severity, Geburah) and also that of Authority for it Transmits or reflects the Word of the Father or Logos.
The Path from Chesed to Tiphereth is that of "The Moon" by Tarot and is attributed to the Sign of Pisces, which in turn is Ruled by Jupiter. Through this Path came the Piscean Tradition of the Fish-God, another aspect of Horus as the Solar Deity or Son.
The Card itself is described in the old G.D. Ritual as follows (we should place the card in position on the Tree and study the symbolism carefully):
"It represents the Moon in its increase in the side of Gedulah (Chesed), it has sixteen principal and sixteen secondary rays. Four Hebrew Yods fall from it (4 = Chesed the representative of the Law of the Father). There are two Watchtowers, Two Dogs and a Crayfish. The Four Yods represent the letters of the Holy Name (transmitted from the breast of the Figure of Temperance). The Crayfish is emblem of the Sun (Tiphereth) below the horizon, as he ever is when the Moon is increasing above."
As we shall see later the Path of the "Sun" is that of the Setting Sun. The Moon God was known as "Sin" whose word is restriction, and this has been characteristic of the Piscean Age just passed. The true tradition of the Sun became clouded in that age.
The Moon transmits some Light even if it is but a reflector of the Sun. The Word of Sin being Restriction, we may notice how the influence of "Preservation" became that of "Repression" which is but a partial understanding of the idea.
On the other hand, we should next study the Path from Binah to Geburah and then the one from Geburah to Tiphereth. These represent the opposite tradition of Over Indulgence, or "Destruction" through Waste of Life.
The Path from Binah, the Primal Mother, to Geburah the Sphere of Mars, is by Tarot "The Blasted Tower" and it is attributed to the Planet Mars. Here we see another aspect of Horus as the God of War and Vengeance.
The G.D. Ritual says: "It represents a Tower struck by a lightning flash proceeding from a rayed circle and terminating in a triangle. It is the Tower of Babel. The flash exactly forms the Astronomical Symbol of Mars. It is the power of the Triad (concentrated in Binah, 3) rushing down and destroying the Column of Darkness (the Pillar of Severity, also the Dark Tradition). The men falling from the Tower represent the fall of the Kings of Edom."
"On the Right Hand side of the Tower is Light and the representation of the Tree of Life by Ten Circles, on the Left Hand is Darkness, and eleven Circles symbolizing the Qliphoth."
Here the tradition of Light and Darkness is clearly indicated. The fall of the Tower of Babel resulted in the loss of the Universal Language, since when confusion has prevailed. The Sons of Darkness for a time retrogressed, while the followers of the Tradition of Light were advancing. This is the result of the Positive and Negative Currents from the "Path of Saturn" through Binah the Dark Sphere.
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