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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 22:54:12 GMT
Atu 0: The Fool
Letter: א Aleph (A) Number: 1, 1000F Proximity: Sephira #1 (Kether) to Sephira #2 (Chokmah) Ruling Pentagram: Pent #11 “Scintillating”: Air of 離(Li) The Clinging, Fire (Above/Below), Fire of 坎(K’an) The Abysmal, Water (Without/Within) Berashith: “Elohim called the Dry Land Earth” Corner Hexagrams: (Upper right)Fire: Hex #37: 家人 (Chia Jên) The Family / Clan (Lower left) Air: Hex #38: 睽 (K’uei) Opposition (Upper left) Water: Hex #39: 蹇 (Chien) Obstruction (Lower right) Earth: Hex #40: 解 (Hsieh) Deliverance Keywords (Dignified): Adventurous, Gayness, Beginnings, Fertility, Abundance, Charisma, Energy, Synchronicity, Divine Madness, Youthful, Innocence, Joyousness, Ecstasy, Optimistic, Lucky, Levity, Exhibitionism, Indiscretion, Reluctance to Listen to Wisdom, Undisciplined Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Bad decision, Impulsive, Naivety leading to destruction, Unrealistic, Flighty, Maniacal, Impervious, Irresponsible, Oblivious, Disconnected, Dismissive, Indecisive, Hesitant, Apathy, Failure to Diligently Proceed, Ignoring Opportunities Interpretations Historical: The physical positioning of the Fool card, in the Tree of Life, has been a matter of much dispute, owing chiefly to the fact that the Fool was a *wild card* in the original gaming decks, as they spread across Europe. Only when it began being used as a divination tool, did the question of its placement become a question, of some concern. Some decks place it at the beginning, others at the end, and still others, at one or another places in-between. Following its natural chronological value in the real numbers system, it should always come at the beginning. This is the standard adopted by the Golden Dawn, carried on in The Book of Thoth, and confirmed in the Mutational Alchemy Tarot Deck, where chronology is attended to with a much greater precision than ever before. Although quite a few of the ATU characters carry a staff, the Fool will traditionally be using his, to carry his belongings, off to the right of the card, towards the future. An animal is present behind the Fool. Cats, wolves, dogs and crocodiles are all popularly used. Golden Dawn: Called The Foolish Man, (The Spirit of Ether), the Fool card corresponds to elemental Air, and the planetary Pluto, and places between Sephira #1 (Kether) and Sephira #2 (Chokmah) in the Golden Dawn system. The emphasis is that of a young man embarking on a journey, short on material resources, but long on charisma, full of wonder, and innocence. It is typically linked to Idea, Thought, Spirituality, and Energetic Initiative. A brilliant sun, and flowers, indicate Spring. Roses, of no particular color figure prominently. If depicted, the cliff is over a watery abyss, in which swims a crocodile. It may not be depicted, in some Golden Dawn decks. The wolf, representing Fool's controlled, baser, animal nature, is also present behind the Fool. It is OK to substitute other wild animals for the wolf, and some GD decks, such as the Rider-Waite, use a dog, and sometimes, the Fool is a baby. These symbols are consistently seen across the vast array of Golden Dawn tarots that came out of the organization. Thoth: In Thoth we find a much more expansive definition of the Fool, as a preeminent force of Nature, himself. Here the Fool is seen as the vehicle of manifestation, stemming from Crown in the Above, and culminating in the Universe card, Below. It is linked to the Spirit of Springtime, where everything is fresh and new – seemingly appearing as if from nowhere, and nothing at all – filling the great cauldron of Life, with infinite possibilities. Its archetype shifts from innocent vagabond, to that of Dionysius, Bacchus, the Green Man of Spring, and similar archetypal forms. A tiger is used as the animal symbol which bites into him. The crocodile is also present. Mutational Alchemy: Like Thoth, Mutational Alchemy is interested in the Fool as the great Alpha of physical manifestation. There are very clear, qabbalistic, similarities to the *Adam Kadmon* (the primordial *First Man*) stepping forward from the alchemical *Prima Materia*, or *First Matter*, from which all other divisions, layers, and dimensions unfold. In the Fool, we find an embodied example of the possibilities of existence – a state of Mind and Matter above the fray, and unencumbered by the shackles of Restriction. In the Fool, life is a great adventure, and existence is pure Joy and perfect Freedom. The Proximity Principle validates the Fool’s positioning, between Sephiroth One (Kether, Crown) and Two (Chokmah, Wisdom). Its elemental hexagrams tell an amazingly complex story of love, and danger – of struggle, and victory, against all worldly odds. It is important to note, that the Fool is alchemically linked to the Fortune card, which carries the same hexagrams in Reciprocal Inverse order. Distilling its four hexagrams down to their bigrammal components reveals a preponderance of both Air and Earth elements, numbering 4 of each in total. In the Four Bigrams, Air and Earth correspond to Son and Daughter, which positions them hierarchically in the relationship of Microcosm. Microcosm’s overwhelming *aspiration* is to Macrocosm in the Above, so here, we see a very unexpected circumstance where the Fool, (which is already at Apex in the Above) is clothed in the inertia of profound Ascension. It carries Pentagram #11 at helm, reading *Air of Li* in the Above/Below position and *Fire of K’an* in the Without/Within position. Li and K’an traditionally correspond to the elements of Fire and Water, respectively. It is perhaps, most interesting, in this case, that K’an, (the Abysmal, Water,) is carried internally, as this may tell us something about the nature of the Fool’s assorted struggles and conflicts, which would seem to have no other apparent source so much as K’an within. K’an also appears twice in the corner hexagrams, along the Yin, (left-slant,) diagonal axis. We may assert with a degree of confidence, that while the Fool is cloaked outwardly in an abundance of Fire and Air, it is nevertheless internally preoccupied with Earth, and Water, and *troubled* waters in particular. Water typically links to Emotions, but is also the province of Saturn, wherein we come ‘round to the notion of universal law, and laws. The Fool, in that case, is in many respects, a kind of standard of future civilization itself. His *journey* is ultimately no different than the journey that humankind is on. The Scene: The Fool’s journey throughout the Tree of Life is no minor walk in the park. A primordial superman in his own right, he is like Enkidu (the heroic character from Sumerian mythology,) not yet having achieved perfect understanding, but powerful to action, and perfectly joined with Nature, the Queen of Infinite Space who is his secret protector, and parent, Lady Luck. The Fool is at the brink of a cliff, overlooking the Tree, symbolic of the Great Division, between the Supernals, and Infernals, within the Tree of Life itself. He is poised, about to take the plunge, into *life beneath the waters*, as the Infernals are often called, yet perfectly protected by his/her natural synergy. Note also however, as a serpent, he is moving both left, and right, towards past and future but remains firmly grounded in the present. The iconography of the feathered serpent in mythology represents the deity who has powers over heaven, and the underworld, a marriage of the chthonic and sky gods in one. Such representations of a serpent, combined with the heavenly powers of birds, were not confined to Mesoamerican belief. The Sumerian serpent deity Ningishzidda is also depicted in combination with winged djinn. The jaguar here, is like the fool’s lion, or dog, (sometimes a crocodile,) depicted biting the ankle of the fool, traditional in older tarot, and still present, but in the form of the jaguar. In the jaguar’s land of origin, it was admired simply for what it was, a great hunter, and fighter. Here it represents the Yin principle, whereas the feathered serpent represents the Yang. The crocodile is inferred by the mythology of the characters themselves. Cipactli shows up later on The Hanged Man, as well, where Tezcatlipoca is in his human form rather than the jaguar form. Kukulkan and Tezcatlipoca weave a colorful tapestry of creation, drama, magick and mystery in the Fool card. Co-creators, and rivals, in the Aztec pantheon. Kukulkan is typical of the horned and feathered serpent gods of the American continents, with his primary function being that of the fertile male deity, Lord of Light, benevolent, with a warmer character than his brother, Tezcatlipoca (literally, “smoking mirror”,) who has grim stories, and gruesome ritual iconography, associated with him. Tezcatlipoca is identified with the jaguar, one of the denizens of the jungles of Central and South America. Tezcatlipoca is known as “the sacrificed one” and he is depicted more than once in our deck’s journey. The Egyptian star-goddess Nuit is also identified here, as the purple miasma with star substrate and, in the spots of the leopard’s coat.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 22:56:26 GMT
Atu I: The Magus
Letter: ב Beth (B)
Number: 2
Proximity: Sephira #1 (Kether) to Sephira #3 (Binah)
Ruling Pentagram:
Pent #12 "Transparent": Air of 艮(Kên) Keeping Still, Mountain (Above/Below), Air of 坎(K’an) The Abysmal, Water (Without/Within)
Berashith: "And Elohim saw that it was good"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right)Fire: Hex #53: 漸 (Chien) Development (Gradual Progress)
(Lower left) Air: Hex #54: 歸妹 (Kuei Mei) The Marrying Maiden
(Upper left) Water: Hex #53: 漸 (Chien) Development (Gradual Progress)
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #54: 歸妹 (Kuei Mei) The Marrying Maiden
Keywords (Dignified): Adaptation, Attunement, Focused Intent, Lucidity, Distillation, Synthesis, Universalism, Empathic, Conceptual, Transformative, Masterful, Communicative, Responsible, Illuminating, Inspirational, Transmission, Messenger
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Punitive, Puritanical, Stern, Impassionate, Aloof, Narcissistic, Rash, Unrealistic, Flighty, Obstinate.
Interpretations
Historical: The Magus carries all of the traditional emblems of magickal power on older decks. Usually a man, he carries the wand, the cup, the disk, the athame or sword. An element for spirit is also added, sometimes a lamp, sometimes a lemniscate. These are the symbols of the elements later found in the small cards or elemental suites. A scroll is sometimes placed in his upraised hand symbolizing the written word and teachings. Sometimes bread is present. On occasion, a crown, especially of gold, graces his forehead.
Golden Dawn: Called The Magician, (The Magus of Power,) the Magician card corresponds to the planetary Mercury, and places between Sephira #1, (Kether) and Sephira #3, (Binah) in the Golden Dawn system. This card usually depicts a mature man, dressed in traditional western magickal garb, surrounded with the implements of his craft: the wand (fire), the sword (air), the cup (water), the disk (earth) as well as some symbol representative of spirit, or aether (usually the lemniscate, or infinity symbol). About his waist, he carries the Ouroboros serpent, as a belt, symbolic of the alchemical Great Work attained. In a few decks we see him portrayed as *the juggler*, but this portrayal has mostly vanished from popular decks of today. It generally alludes to his capacity to juggle Mind & Matter together, in perfect equilibrium, but derives from older playing decks associated to stage magic.
Thoth: The Book of Thoth focuses more on the alchemical association of Mercury and the ways in which this plays out in the inner workings of the Magus. Mercury is all about Energy as well as the idea of Focused Energy and therefore Will. Mercury is also a highly volatile, but transmutable element commonly associated to exceptional receptivity and adaptation to Change. It corresponds to the second letter in the Hebrew alphabet, called Beth, the meaning of which is House, thus alluding to the *house of god* or (more accurately) the Supernals within the Tree of Life taken together as one. It positions between Kether (Crown) and Binah (Understanding), leaning towards the Mother, where the Fool leans towards the Father.
Mutational Alchemy: The Magus path is one of only 6 Atu paths whose Reciprocal Inverse is itself, comprised of hexagrams 53 and 54 on both sides of the TwinTrees chronological arrangement.
Only two other similar coordinates exist in the form of Sephiroth in the Tree of Life. Hexagrams 53 (Development) and 54 (Marrying Maiden) both address the principle of Marriage in the I Ching. While the I Ching confines itself to marriage within society, the larger conversation of the marriage of similars and opposites across all of Nature is taken up in the Magus.
As with the old books, the Magus is the standard bearer for the assimilation and pragmatic application of esoteric principles of Unity leading to the Supreme Attainment of the marriage between Lesser and Higher Self in perfect balance with Universe, and Universal Nature. In the Magus we see a depiction of one who has not only achieved these aims for himself, but is tirelessly committed to making that same attainment possible for all Sentient Beings.
The development and dissemination of one’s own magickal *Word* or *Law* is expressed here. People powerfully drawn to this card will tend to be seekers of truth, regardless whether this may manifest through art, or science, or some other material modality.
The idea of physical and spiritual *Perfection* is embedded in the Magus, alongside the notion that, everyone is ultimately capable of rising above their stations, and achieving this exalted status.
The Scene: Khnum-Ra, called by the ancient Egyptians "Father of Fathers", is the third aspect of Ra, his evening manifestation, or his "BA", - that part of a being that is entirely spiritual, and winged, in symbology.
Although it may not be apparent why he was chosen by m1thr0s for this station, considering the baser depictions of the Magus in prior decks as the "carnival" Magician or Juggler, there is an explanation. One of the things not readily apparent about the Magus, him being overshadowed by the Emperor, and the various Kings, is that he is like Khnum, the Father of Fathers, in reality.
All masculine aspects, The Hermit, The Devil, The Emperor, The Kings, and Princes, Sun, and Hanged Man are part of the Magus's immense being. As controller of the Nile, life itself, to the ancient Egyptians, he controlled the flux and flow of life, and death. So it is without a doubt that the great magician father god, Ra, in his aspect as the source of eternal renewal of life makes for the most appropriate Magus.
Witness his green skin, traditional in the iconography, the essence of the verdant life-giving growth, spawned by the Nile. With certainty, and confidence, he is asking his children to ascend ever upwards, towards Completion.
The infinity symbol, or moebius, has been omitted, considering that it would be a redundant symbol of the fluid and giving waters of infinite life and creation that Khnum has absolute authority over.
His consort, Satis, is equated to the Eye of Ra, like a few other important goddesses. It is through Satet and his daughter Anuket that the flood occurs each year, fertilizing the plain.
The Magus represents the power and authority of God. As the life giving source of the waters of the Nile, Khnum as well exemplifies the source of the Magus's divine powers.
The two royal cobras, or Wadjet, represent the perfect synthesis of male and female energy at the disposal of Khnum as well as his divine potency. The celebration of Wadjet, the sacred cobra goddess, was held at December 25th of every year, when the Sun was at its farthest point. This pairs with the function of Khnum as the third aspect of Ra, that of the setting sun. It is in the night that magick becomes most potent, and sundown is the gateway to mystery. Hermes or Mercury himself is called the “Companion of Blackest Night” by his brother, Apollo.
This is a small mirror of the splendour of humanity, the possible Magus within all of us.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 22:58:19 GMT
Atu II: The Priestess
Letter: ג Ghimel (G)
Number: 3
Proximity: Sephira #1 (Kether) to Sephira #6 (Tiphareth)
Ruling Pentagram:
Pent #13 "Unifying": Air of 兌 (Tui) The Joyous, Lake (Above/Below), Fire of 震(Chen) The Arousing, Thunder (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Let the Earth be vegetated"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right)Fire: Hex #61: 中孚 (Chung Fu) Inner Truth
(Lower left) Air: Hex #61: 中孚 (Chung Fu) Inner Truth
(Upper left) Water: Hex #62: 小過 (Hsiao Kuo) Preponderance of the Small
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #62: 小過 (Hsiao Kuo) Preponderance of the Small
Keywords (Dignified): Intuitive, Empathic, Psychic, Visionary, Devoted, Articulate, Coordinated, Mystical, Unconventional, Adaptive, Psychic, Inner-Truth, Higher-Self, Gnosis, Sophia, Contemplative, Artistic, Sensual, Spiritual, Apparently Emotionless , Talkative, Teacher, Penetration
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Ignorance, Intolerance, Short-Sightedness, Lack of Understanding, Lackadaisical, Unfocused, Selfishness, Improper Judgement, Shallowness, Lack of understanding, Conceit
Interpretations
Historical: The Priestess is, a straightforward character. The first strictly feminine card in the tarot, she is important. Receptivity is her main power. She also has the power of casting the net across the entire universe, which serves to collect all spirit back into crown. The pillars are blatantly symbolic of the vaginal canal, and no attempt has been made to hide the labiaesque folds of her robes, in most decks. Few attempts have been made to point this out, but it is there nonetheless. The peacock is occasionally assigned to her, presumably due to its manifold all-seeing eyes, or simply for its haunting call, and often, she is given a masculine face. She is called the Popess, in older decks, or the Papess, and her connection to Pope Joan is often cited as the source of her status. Often a crescent moon is depicted.
Golden Dawn: Called The High Priestess (The Priestess of the Silver Star), the High Priestess card corresponds to the planetary Moon, and places between Sephira #1 (Kether,) and Sephira #6 (Tiphareth,) in the Golden Dawn system. She is depicted as a young woman crowned, and enthroned, between two pillars, bathed in moonlight, reading a book, said to contain the great timeless secrets of feminine power, and magick. Sometimes called the Popess, other times depicted as Persephone, her power is generally defined as *lunar* and *chthonic*. She has been defined as a form of the Shekhinah, (in Hebrew traditions,) and the Sophia, (in Hellenistic practice).
Thoth: The Book of Thoth emphasizes her Lunar characteristics, defining her as representing the Moon in its *highest aspects*. Attention is drawn to her positioning in the Tree of Life, which is especially dynamic, linking 6 (Tiphareth, Sol, Beauty) and 1 (Kether, Crown,) along the Middle Pillar as well as forming the vertical half of the *Cave of the Ancients*, along with the Empress, whose horizontal path intersects hers at the base of the Supernals – anatomically associated to the *Third Eye* region of the body, also called the Pineal Eye, or Pineal Body.
Mutational Alchemy: As with the Magus, The Priestess’ Reciprocal Inverse path is itself, making it especially *internal*, and, self-contained. Its linkage with I Ching is remarkably stunning, since it carries Hexagrams 61, (Inner Truth, or Chung/Kung Fu,) and 62 (Preponderance of the Small,) denoting its macrocosmic spirituality, aimed devotedly at microcosm. We have adapted a more shamanic imagery, also more resembling the Shakti principle in East Indian traditions. Her relationship to Sound and the Spiral energy of Crown, (loosely called Mezla,) remain the same, as indeed all her usual aspects remain intact in the new. Instead of an enigmatic Book of Secrets, she carries a flaming TwinStar that extends to all regions of time and space, facilitating her work and influence with greater vigor and force. Since she is taxed with the job of collecting all life below the Abyss, and returning it to source, her energetic netting has been upgraded to make that job more doable. We have left off her more Eurocentric characteristics seeking instead to capture her more universal qualities.
The Scene: The Priestess is a dual character, with two primary capacities – that of the totality of the Yin, (Receptive, Kun,) principal, just as the Magus represents the totality of Yang. They are consorts.
She is dangerous and receptive, splendid and horrific. She is second only to the Magician and The Fool, and the first manifest feminine archetype in the deck. She has the potential of all the following feminine archetypes in the Major Arcana, including The Empress, and World/Universe.
The TwinStar is depicted in its visually unbridled form, with electrically charged lines extending out into infinity.
The animal forms in the fire are representative of beastly and sentient elemental forms, bison for earth, serpent for water, tiger for fire, raven for air, indicating her ability to communicate with elementals, as one human speaks to another. (And this can be said to be a simple act for any priestess in the occult, as well.)
Even though Shakti is pure, raw power, with Siva, the masculine principle, acting as a kind of superintelligent conduit to route that power, The Priestess has traditionally been assigned the station of guardian of arcane mysteries, and knowledge. Here too, she is exercising her force as Maya, who decides who will wake up, and when. This power ensures that those who are serious about the occult had better be sure to pay respect to the divine feminine, and not just the divine masculine. He supports her fully in every way as The Priestess represents the purest, most elevated form of goddess.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 22:59:40 GMT
Atu III: The Empress
Letter: ד Daleth (D)
Number: 4
Proximity: Sephira #2 (Chokmah) to Sephira #3 (Binah)
Ruling Pentagram:
Pent #14 "Luminous": Air of 坎 (K’an) The Abysmal, Water (Above/Below), Air of 震(Chen) The Arousing, Thunder (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim saw that it was good"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #59: 渙 (Huan) Dispersion / Dissolution
(Lower left) Air: Hex #60: 節 (Chieh) Limitation
(Upper left) Water: Hex #56: 旅 (Lü) The Wanderer
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #55: 豐 (Fêng) Abundance
Keywords (Dignified): Nurturing, Maternal, Educational, Domestic, Protective, Managerial, Economical, Defiant, Aristocratic, Patient, Determined, Abundant, Benevolent, Loyal, Sensuous, Militant, Fertile, Ecological, Loving
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Lethargic, Disengaged, Vacillating, Controlling, Punitive, Instigative, Venomous.
Interpretations
Historical: Usually associated to Venus, we find various references to Demeter, or other goddesses of Abundance. Her importance seems to have been falsely deprecated by those failing to grasp the even the very ground she walks on, which is in fact, the foundation of the Supernals themselves, within the Tree of Life. Thus she has been both maligned, and, poorly defined, historically.
Golden Dawn: Called the Empress (Daughter of the Mighty Ones), the Empress card corresponds to the planetary Venus and places between Sephira #2 (Chokmah) and Sephira #3 (Binah) in the Golden Dawn system. She is often referred to as *sister* to the Priestess, dressed in fine apparel, with very few adornments, aside from those depicting her royal stature.
Thoth: Crowley persists with this passive-pigeon interpretation, linking her to the alchemical element of Salt, and extolling her as the *inactive principle in Nature*, which only speaks to his habitual misogyny, and, relative ignorance, with respect to the actual workings of Nature.
Mutational Alchemy: Fortunately, the hexagrams have more to say regarding the Empress. Indeed, we do get Hexagram #55, (Abundance,) in the Earth corner, but most telling of all, is Hexagram #59, (Dissolution, Dispersion,) in the position of Fire! Balancing this we get Hexagram #60, (Limitation,) in Air…thus revealing a hidden Lawgiver/Warrior aspect of the Empress, roughly anticipated in the East, but stupidly denied her in the West.
Upon her royal shield, she carries the emblem of the Fire Phoenix, which bears the mathematical symmetry of the Tetractys and TwinStar: begrudgingly acknowledged, but never clearly apprehended in Western Mystery traditions, until Mutational Alchemy.
If we consider that her Reciprocal Inverse is the Hermit card, we may be able to better appreciate that her true strengths have been mysteriously *cloaked*, until such time as these attributions might finally be revealed to the persistent.
Accordingly, we have dispensed with her *Queen Jane* façade and have opted, instead, for an image of Tiamat herself, as is more befitting her actual positioning, in the Tree of Life, in this immediate timeframe. In doing this, we are retaining her *Salt* principle intact, since, Tiamat is representative of *bitter waters* (e.g., saltwater,) in Sumerian cosmology.
Stemming directly off of Binah, called, *the Great Black Mother* in the East, we should prefer to be among the very last of all conceivable buffoons to miscategorize her as a *passive* anything!
Where the helpless, wailing, bovine, Isis may have played some essential role in bygone eras, it is even more essential that we move on from that failed standard of corruptible, and inept, nobility approaching future.
Where it is true that the Queen of Heaven nurtures all manifest sentience, there is no sustainable justification for regarding this as some sort of inherent docility, on her part.
Our failure to apprehend the more proactive aspects of the Empress is equaled only by our failure to apprehend the more proactive aspects of the Emperor, the combination of which has left us with a broken standard of sovereignty, both esoterically, and exoterically.
Finally, the Hebrew phrase to the Intelligence of *Luminous*, of this card's ruling pentagram, corresponds to a blessing from Berashith, repeated several times, throughout the steps of creation. So, it is assumed, naturally, that mothers, and, female rulers, are a kind of blessing.
The Scene: A bejeweled fusion of Tiamat, Venus, and Parvati is depicted here in this allegorical piece.
Eros nurses at her breast, while the archetypal god of war and vengeance, practices crushing universes in his fist, as a child of darkness. The triune serpent, a symbol of the energized force that the Indians call Shesha Ananta, glows above this child, indicating him, as a Crown Prince of the highest order. A normal human girl child is clutched in the Empress’s tail, indicating the potential of macrocosmic nature to flow down to the lowest particle of matter and manifest within. There is no God but Man. She carries the alchemical twin phoenix standard that the Emperor also carries as his shield crest. This is recognized, in Mutational Alchemy, as an organic representation of the TwinStar principle. In some Tarot decks, the phoenix is treated as a messenger that acts as a communication line between the Empress and the Emperor, as they conduct the business of heaven and earth.
Mount Kailash, the abode of Maha Siva, and Parvati, (“Daughter of the Mountain”) is seen in the background. Crowley misidentifies her as the “Daughter of Zeus,” yet the Empress is as dissimilar to Zeus as the Titans would be. This does not reflect poorly on Zeus, who is a kind of divine King, but we need to be careful not to create a situation where the Empress and Emperor are ill-dignified due to the irreverence we afford their station.
Turning to Sumerian mythology, we find that “chaos monsters” like Tiamat can be “killed” repeatedly, but they can never actually die. They are primordial fountains of life, even if dangerous, and unpredictable, to the more murderous soldier and merchant classes who betray their own inherent royalty along with hers. Tiamat is nurturing and capable, yet, fiercely protective, and warlike, when the matter turns towards the protection of her realm. As nurturant mother, she is responsible for saving the gods, (her children,) from Abzu’s wrath in the creation mythos, but she is also the instrument of their punishment, when they plot to murder Abzu.
She embodies the physical cosmos itself. The flowers at her feet carry a host of meanings. Flax, a very pretty blue flowering plant used to produce linen, representing the domestic sphere; the orchid, a symbol of many children, snapdragons, called “the gracious lady” also representing strength, moss, representing charity, and lungwort, from the Victorian era equivalent to saying (in the giving of it) “thou art my life.”
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:01:07 GMT
Atu IV: The Star
Letter: ה Hé (H, E)
Number: 5
Proximity: Sephira #2 (Chokmah) to Sephira #4 (Chesed)
Ruling Pentagram:
Pent #15 "Constituting": Air of 震 (Chên) The Arousing, Thunder (Above/Below,) Fire of 坤(Kun) The Receptive, Earth (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim said let there be luminaries"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #42: 益 (I) Increase
(Lower left) Air: Hex #41: 損 (Sun) Decrease
(Upper left) Water: Hex #31: 咸 (Hsien) Influence / Wooing
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #32: 恆 (Hêng) Duration
Keywords (Dignified): Illuminating, Beneficent, Inspirational, Beautiful, Charismatic, Enduring, Optimistic, Clarifying, Ennobling, Empowering, Uplifting, Transplendent, Nurturing, Aspiring, Harmonious, Conscious
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Misfortune, Despair, Disappointment, Pessimism, Fatalism, Broken Dreams.
Interpretations
Historical: The Star card is one of several paths that have been positioned incorrectly, according to the Proximity Principle of Mutational Alchemy.
In the Golden Dawn system it is usually placed between Sephira #7 (Netzach) and Sephira #9 (Yesod) and is assigned the Hebrew letter/number Tzaddi (90.)
It is moved several times. The Book of the Law, (Liber Al Vel Legis) stated in 1904, "All these old letters of my Book are aright; but [Tzaddi] is not the Star. This also is secret: my prophet shall reveal it to the wise."
Crowley responded, first by switching the Hebrew letters with The Emperor, but he didn't change the ATU numeration. He then switched its positioning on the Tree, with the Star, but again, didn't change the ATU numeration.
The Star, with the correct letter, He, should logically correspond to the 5th Proximity Principal path between Sephira #2, (Chokmah,) and Sephira #4, (Chesed). Because paths are often numbered 11–32, its positional placement is path #15, the same as its corresponding Pentagram. Inasmuch as ATU numerations should also adhere to the Proximity Principle, the Star card acquires the additional value of ATU IV, previously assigned to the Emperor card.
Golden Dawn: Called The Star (The Daughter of the Firmament), the Star card corresponds to the zodiacal Aquarius and places between Sephira #7 (Netzach) and Sephira #9 (Yesod) in the Golden Dawn system.
This card is dominated by Venus symbolism, and includes an image of a young woman, pouring water from a vessel, reminiscent of the zodiacal Aquarius sign, as its default alchemical association. It is generally defined as an auspicious card, bringing good fortune, and also signifying lofty aspirations in line with the Will of Heaven.
Thoth: Crowley builds upon this card’s traditional Aquarian association, and incorporates various archetypes, endemic to his own magickal philosophy. The essential imagery remains about the same, with somewhat less emphasis placed on Venus. Based upon his interpretation of instructions found in the transmitted Liber Al vel Legis, Crowley swaps The Star, and The Emperor positions, placing The Star between Sephira #2 (Chokmah,) and Sephira #6, (Tiphareth,) where it then acquires the Hebrew letter/number Hé (5). Since the original Emperor positioning was incorrect, the newly planted Star card is also incorrect.
Liber Al vel Legis is silent with respect to path positions, addressing *Letters* only in their popular correspondence to Tarot images at the time. Our own positional corrections do not contradict it, in any way, despite the fact that Crowley’s own astrological rationalizations find no particular validation in Mutational Alchemy principles. In general, if it isn’t *broken*, with respect to Mutational Alchemy chronological organization, no attempt has been made to *fix* it. Archetypes vary from age to age, and even alphabetical orders may do so, as well. The Proximity Principle takes all of this into account, and only applies itself to rational numerical alignments.
Curiously, Crowley describes the Emperor card as if it were still in the upper part of the tree, receiving the light of Kether. He may have formed an emotional attachment to the work of Eliphas Levi, whom he claimed to be one and the same, reincarnated.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: It doesn’t take much observational skill to recognize, that virtually all traditional Tarot systems, up to this point in time, have been rooted in contemporary views of astrology, thus, the Star immediately assumes the conversation of *heavenly stars*, as we know, and experience them.
Mutational Alchemy is not concerned with cataloging astrological ideas, so much as it is interested in the anatomics of the Body of Light, as outlined in Tantricism, and alluded to time, and time again, throughout most of the great mystery traditions, down through the ages. Mutational Alchemy is fundamentally a transformational alchemical enginery, that looks to systems like the Tree of Life, (among others,) to tell us what *human stars* may be, and, it may also tell us something useful, as to how we might simulate this kind of physical Perfection for ourselves.
Thus, the only star that very much concerns us here is the star of Consciousness itself. That this type of Star may find certain parallels among Heavenly stars, should come as no great surprise, as the laws of physics that govern the Without, are very often echoed seamlessly in the Within. Hermetic Alchemy has known this for a very long time, and Mutational Alchemy is a specialized extension of Hermetic Alchemy, seeking to capture a falsifiable physics of the *Star*, that we, (humans,) ultimately are.
In application, most of the traditional meanings of this card, as it surfaces in divination, will be more or less the same as in former decks, but the emphasis here is more on the principle of *Higher Self*, than it is on the estimated Will of Heaven.
We would expect this card to be representative of extraordinary insight, of breakthroughs in understanding, of visionary expansion, and abundant energetic infusion, coming at us more from Within, than Without. Its technical construction here is rooted in the idea of Wholeness, and transmutational Completion. Its corresponding hexagrams speak of Ebb & Flow, of Constancy in the midst of Change, and Order in the face of Chaos.
Its Reciprocal Inverse is The Moon card, bearing the same hexagrams, in opposite organization. But this Moon is not the astrological moon, so much as it is the Lunar side of Consciousness itself. Every card in this deck is about Consciousness, first and foremost, while astrology, or other arcane disciplines, are viewed as complementary, but not of paramount importance.
The Scene: Rooted in the premise that “every man and every woman is a star”, the Star image depicted here, is built upon the balancing of both Manifest, and Hidden paths within the Tree of Life. The 22 Manifest Paths are better understood, by most students of Qabbalah, or modern western magickal disciplines, and, there are hundreds of books available by this point in time illuminating various aspects of their system.
Lesser known are the 16 Hidden Paths. These are legitimate paths, not included in the 22 Manifest Paths system, that, otherwise, operate exactly the same way. Together, they form a coherent glyph in themselves, looking strikingly like some exotic diamond. Thus, it is typically referred to, in Mutational Alchemy, as the *Hidden Diamond*. The Star as depicted here, is rooted in the premise that the alchemical marriage of these two great Pathworkings is preeminently the key to Body of Light Wholeness, and thus, to Higher Self, and finally, Completion. It is a visual mapping of these two great cosmological divisions coming together in undivided balance, and equilibrium. This is the meaning of the Great Work, as defined in Mutational Alchemy, and is deemed the most viable road accessible to us, leading out of the darkness, and on to the stars, for every human being.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:03:28 GMT
Atu V: The Hierophant
Letter: ו Vau (V, F, W)
Number: 6
Proximity: Sephira #2 (Chokmah) to Sephira #6 (Tiphareth)
Ruling Pentagram:
Pent #16 "Eternal" – Air of 坤 (K’un) The Receptive, Earth (Above, Below,) Air of 坤(Kun) The Receptive, Earth (Without, Within)
Berashith: "Elohim made two luminaries"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #20: 觀 (Kuan) Contemplation/View
(Lower left) Air: Hex #19: 臨 (Lin) Approach
(Upper left) Water: Hex #33: 遯 (Tun) Retreat
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #34: 大壯 (Ta Chuang) Power of the Great
Keywords (Dignified): Knowledge, Propriety, Wisdom, Strength, Marriage, Mastery, Equilibrium, Mystery, Power, Demonstrative, Judicial, Advisory, Spirituality, Morality, Instructional, Exemplary, Interpretive, Ancestral, Transitional
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Gullibility, Arrogance, Pomposity, Complacency, Dogmatism, Religious Extremism.
Interpretations
Historical: The Hierophant card is one of several paths that have been positioned incorrectly, according to the Proximity Principle of Mutational Alchemy. In both the Golden Dawn, and Thoth systems, it is usually placed between Sephira #3, (Binah,) and Sephira #6, (Tiphareth,) and assigned the Hebrew letter/number Vau, (6). Vau is the 6th letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and should logically correspond to the 6th Proximity Principal path, between Sephira #2, (Chokmah,) and Sephira #6, (Tiphareth). Since paths are often numbered 11–32, its positional placement is path #16, the same as its corresponding Pentagram.
Golden Dawn: Called The Hierophant, (Magus of the Eternal Gods,) the Hierophant card corresponds to the zodiacal Taurus, and places between Sephira #2, (Chokmah,) and Sephira #4 (Chesed) in the Golden Dawn system. The Hierophant sits enthroned between two pillars, adorned with an eclectic assortment of symbols, from numerous arcane sources, lacking any certain continuity of purpose, making it one of the more obscure cards in the entire deck. It appears as a chaotic fusion of esoteric icons in general, somehow representing the union of macrocosm with microcosm, with an underpinning emphasis on syncretism, as the median of all other spiritual paths and disciplines.
Thoth: Crowley upgrades the symbolism of this card somewhat, apparently attempting to preserve its *priestly* characteristics, but still retaining its bewildering incontinuity. In a fairly whimsical rewrite of its former properties, it is hailed as a Priest of Horus, under the guise of the New Aeon, as Crowley envisioned it. Much of the problem here is that there have been too many competing ideas over time as to what the Hierophant should be; some tending towards a papal character, others a learned priest, still others, some sort of macrocosmic Holy Guardian Angel, and so on down the line. Crowley changes the Hierophant’s clothing, and allegiances, but does very little to resolve these underpinning confusions.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: The Hierophants of old is where we should turn to sort out what the Hierophant of today should be. It is no wonder it seems impossible to stabilize this archetype, in the awkward tatters of Eurocentric rags, and symbols, as it is coming down to us from a much older tradition than any of these things to begin with! To make matters even worse, the ancient Hierophants wrote nothing down! Their traditions were secretive, and oracular. Despite the fact that they produced the Eleusinian Mysteries over an unbroken span of nearly 3000 years, (by some accounts,) we have almost nothing of their practices, or philosophy left to us. Their most powerful records are embedded in the images they worshipped, and this is where we will find them, in the form of Mithras, (also Aion,) itself. Its quaternary hexagrams speak of Coming and Going, of Contemplation and of Power, in the grandest sense of the term. That it continues the work of uniting Macrocosm and Microcosm, is consistent with its imagery, but we are better off to consult that imagery as directly as possible, and leave off the poor pretentious middle-men, as uncomfortable in their clothing as much as in their skins.
The Hierophant is unique in that its Reciprocal Inverse is the planet Jupiter itself, so we have not lost our connection to Jupiter for having corrected its path from Sephiroth 2-4, to the more defensible Sephiroth 2-6. Along with this upgrade, it is high time we update its imagery as well.
The Hierophant had to be retrieved out of the dirt, in which he was left for centuries, and this newly revised edition should always be viewed with an eye on whole universe and completely unbound from the context of a human centric world view. Whole universe and beyond is his charge to balance economically, and, nothing less than that.
What is this arbitrary morality we speak of? Some examples from history include the condemnation of sex before “Church” recognized marriage, whereas in the natural world marriage occurs in every conscious act of union between Yin and Yang flux. Another example is the restriction on sexual activity to a single partner. This does not reflect nature - the decision to be made between monogamy and multiple partners is an instinctual one, it is never enforced in any animal species except for Man.
We can look to nature to get an idea of what is a core universal morality. The Book of the Law informs us that Will is the law.
That any magick or act of Will will work, seems to be a fairly popular view of things...I've seen it expressed before by others. I can't agree that it´s quite that simple. Not in my experience at least. One has to strike a balance between what one believes and who one actually IS in order to derive the maximum benefit that magick has to offer. It´s not so simple a matter as belief in itself, though belief is a vital ingredient. But there is something that goes beyond belief that will overrule belief in a heartbeat if belief stands in violation to this principle or property...of True Self, I suppose... And this we do not always understand at first attempt, nor can belief alone lead us to it properly. This we have to discover on its own basis and come to terms with in relation to those things which we believe. It is this mysterious universal hidden Law that our Hierophant stands for.
The Scene: The Hierophant here is AION, a mysterious, lion-headed figure associated with the Mithraic mystery school, with roots going back into ancient Persia where he was known as Zervan.
On his staff, the word Abrahadabra is written, and the staff connects the Sephiroth, or Tree of Life, and the Hidden Diamond Sutra together, symbolizing his unifying effect on mind, and matter.
The brilliant diamond light of the mezla is his abode, and in the background the net of consciousness unites, and orders, the universe. This, also connects back to the Priestess, who is to be considered the intelligence and analyzer of the net.
The hierophant is holy beyond all petty grappling, and beyond the arbitrary morality that is the foundation of many human-founded dogmas. The rules he upholds are rooted only in universal law, and necessity. Called the God of Infinite Time, or Zervan Akanara by the Neo-Persians, he can easily be equated to the Roman Saturn.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:04:17 GMT
Atu VI: The Lovers
Letter: ז Zayn (Z)
Number: 7
Proximity: Sephira #3 (Binah) to Sephira #5 (Geburah)
Ruling Pentagram: Pent #17 "Disposition"– Earth of 乾 (Ch’ien,) The Creative, Heaven (Above/Below) Earth of 乾(Ch’ien) The Creative, Heaven (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim placed them in the firmament"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #14: 大有 (Ta Yu) Possession in Great Measure
(Lower left) Air: Hex #13: 同人 (T’ung Jên) Fellowship with Men
(Upper left) Water: Hex #7: 師 (Shih) The Army
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #8: 比 (Pi) Holding Together / Union
Keywords (Dignified): Attraction, Passion, Union, Devotion, Sensuality, Love, Companionship, Romance, Intimacy, Sharing, Accommodation, Communication, Transformation, Mediation, Magnetism, Sacrifice, Discovery, Growth
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Separation, Frustration, Quarrelling, Infidelity, Betrayal, Discord, Communication Breakdown.
Interpretations
Historical: The Lovers card is one of several paths that have been positioned incorrectly, according to the Proximity Principle of Mutational Alchemy. In both the Golden Dawn and Thoth systems it is usually placed between Sephira #3 (Binah) and Sephira #6 (Tiphareth) and assigned the Hebrew letter/number Zayn (7). Zayn is the 7th letter in the Hebrew alphabet and should logically correspond to the 7th Proximity Principal path between Sephira #3 (Binah) and Sephira #5 (Geburah). Since paths are often numbered 11 –32, its positional placement is path #17, coincidentally the same as its corresponding Pentagram.
Golden Dawn: Called The Lovers (Children of the Voice Divine), the Lovers card corresponds to the zodiacal sign Gemini and places between Sephira #3 (Binah,) and Sephira #6 (Tiphareth,) in the Golden Dawn system. While some versions of this card depict it as a Garden of Eden scene, others opt for a more combative imagery, in which the Lovers are engaged in a battle against the forces of Evil. These differences seem to hinge upon slightly varying kinds of action, some perceiving the Lovers as a regenerative force, others as a more defensive/preservative one. Yet another version of the Lovers card emphasizes a third Oracular character, (called “The Oracle of the Mighty Gods”) depicting the Lovers as acting under the guidance of a prophetic figure steering them through the thickets of Duality, according to some grand cosmic plan. In this version we seem to have a commentary on the principle of marriage, and its role in separating the gross from the fine, in human affairs.
Thoth: The Book of Thoth leans towards this latter (more obscure,) interpretation and draws to powerful symbols such as the Orphic Egg, and the Hermit, and the alchemical Lion & Eagle (among others,) to hyphenate the principle of *alchemical marriage* and tie it to the Lovers card in some obtuse fashion. Still we find the symbolism of Cain and Abel, Lillith and Eve tossed into the mix so that the entire scene is a curious admixture of Christian, pre-Christian and Pagan iconography lumped together in a chaotic milieu of uncertain import. In most cases it is viewed as a transitional scene, thought to find resolution through other cards still in the ahead.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: Mutational Alchemy is more interested in the Lovers themselves and is not especially concerned with all the biblical surrealism bombarding them in other decks. As a Tarot practitioner of many years it has been my experience that the Lovers card has a very potent intuitive resonance with most people, not requiring of all this convoluted back-story to make sense of things. What the chronological ordering of Heaven Descending and Earth Ascending hexagrams bring to the table is exquisitely clear, and magickal in itself, and serves to validate that intuitive grasp of the card’s intended meaning. In the place of Fire, we get hexagram #14 (Possession in Great Measure) which defines the heart of the matter, whereas the remaining hexagrams speak to Unity and Strength, born of the bond of Love itself. This card is more about the magick of the heart than any cosmic consolidations: it is more about the strength of relationships to shape (or reshape) destiny than it is about the convergence of societal norms and protocols. The Lovers rise above all of that ruckus; they are actually perfectly oblivious to its roar and unheeding of its demands and expectations. They create perfected Universe from nothing and reduce it back to nothing at their whim. They are a law unto themselves, and in the end, all other laws are grossly inadequate by comparison. Certainly, the principle of marriage is defined here, but marriage as it occurs in Nature, not the overwhelming oppressiveness of society and dogma.
It is worth noting that the Lovers follows The Hierophant, who is in himself connected with marriage. Yet the Mutational Alchemy Tarot returns to not only this higher standard of marriage, the marriage as it is defined in Nature, but also the essence of the relationship of Love.
The Scene: This card takes on shades of Beast and Babalon, from Crowley’s Thelemic mytho-theological structure. The centaur motif is a distinctly masculine aspect. The manticore tail is a reflection based upon Ningishzidda’s tail in Mushussu (Sumerian chaos monster) form. The dragon is depicted with a scorpion tail in several artifacts from the ancient near east, from the steatite cup in the Louvre, dating back to the height of Lagash in Sumer, to the Babylonian Ishtar gate. The Beast and Babalon motif is older than Crowley’s Babalon – it conjures images of Lilith, Tiamat, Cipactli, and Ammit: the divine feminine who is all-powerful, terrifying and independent. The masculine beast is the Yang aspect of nature itself, paired with a feminine archetype, Yin. This exudes a Saivite or Satanic sort of “deity” of primordial nature who will trump all other masculine archetypes and therefore manages to survive the terror of ferocious and triumphant feminine deities. It represents a marriage of female and male within ourselves – no human is fully one or the other, as man is of the third part of cosm: Jen, neither Yin nor Yang but an admixture of both, and still submissive to the Will of Heaven that lives in our spirit and consciousness. In China the auspicious dragon is that which is below the earth, representing Heaven supporting Earth and uniting. Here the dragon is a centaur, but the meaning is all the same. The Lovers have a unique and unbeatable synergistic potential that leads neatly into the next ATU.
The subservience to the Will of Heaven is inescapable. Even if one believes they are not playing right into the hands of this grand design, it doesn’t matter at all.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:26:16 GMT
Atu VII: The Chariot
Letter: ח Cheth (Ch)
Number: 8
Proximity: Sephira #3 (Binah) to Sephira #6 (Tiphareth)
Ruling Pentagram: Pent #18 "Influence" – Earth of 巽 (Sun) The Penetrating, Wind (Above/Below) Water of 乾(Ch’ien) The Creative, Heaven (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim saw that it was good"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #50: 鼎 (Ting) The Caldron
(Lower left) Air: Hex #49: 革 (Ko) Revolution / Molting
(Upper left) Water: Hex #4: 蒙 (Mêng) Youthful Folly
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #3: 屯 (Chun) Difficulty at the Beginning
Keywords (Dignified): Mobility, Velocity, Energy, Purpose, Dedication, Determination, Will, Ascension, Self-Sovereignty, Balance, High-Technology, Conductivity, Defense, Advancement, Destiny. Entheogens
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Stagnant, Disruptive, Reckless, Retreating, Withdrawing, Self-Destructive.
Interpretations
Historical: The Chariot card is one of several paths that have been positioned incorrectly according to the Proximity Principle of Mutational Alchemy. In both the Golden Dawn and Thoth systems, it is usually placed between Sephira #3 (Binah) and Sephira #5 (Geburah) and assigned the Hebrew letter/number Cheth (8). Cheth is the 8th letter in the Hebrew alphabet and should logically correspond to the 8th Proximity Principal path, between Sephira #3 (Binah,) and Sephira #6 (Tiphareth.) Since paths are often numbered 11–32, its positional placement is path #18, the same as its corresponding Pentagram.
Golden Dawn: Called The Chariot (Lord of the Trumph of Light,) the Chariot card corresponds to the zodiacal Cancer, and places between Sephira #3 (Binah,) and Sephira #5 (Geburah,) in the Golden Dawn system. Its symbolism is a fusion of Hermetic and Arthurian legend with smatterings of Kabbalah tossed in. Facing the viewer stands a golden chariot, (pulled by two sphinxes,) with 4 pillars, and a canopy carrying the charioteer in full armor. The charioteer carries a great shield, said to represent the Holy Grail. He is accompanied by 10 stars, called the stars of Assiah, (the material world,) and is purported to be the crowned and conquering Hermes. The emphasis is not so much on movement as it is meant to be a standard bearer of the Great Work, giving us a physical glimpse of this attainment.
Thoth: Crowley changes very little with respect to the Chariot card. The two sphinxes become four, representative of the Four Cherubim, Fire (Lion), Eagle (Air), Bull (Earth) and Man (Water). Scrolled across the top of his canopy is inscribed the Word Abracadabra, curious, inasmuch as Crowley made much of the New Aeon spelling Abrahadabra, as the heir-apparent *Word of the Aeon* extending across the Aeon of Horus. In any case we still have an intended standard-bearer more defining of strength and balance, than of energy and motion, which is what the Chariot should be about.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: The Chariot is arguably the most important of the 22 Atu with respect to the alchemy of Perfection, set aside (as it is) specifically to clarify and exemplify that standard.
Its reciprocal inverse is the Sun card at Atu XIX, revealing its special solar power and interesting connection to the archetype of Apollo, Ra, Hrw/Horus, Aruna, Sol, Helios and other father-sun deities who are paired with a magickal sky transport of some kind.
Mutational Alchemy cannot reconcile obtuse Arthurian legend with the Royal Science of Alchemy as it stands today, and as it will continue to evolve, long into the future. It is well past time to turn this crusty old page and press on. Accordingly, the outmoded model of the Chariot card has been scuttled in lieu of a superior one.
Since the underlying essence of the Charioteer is Hermes, the twin-headed Hermes Phoenix is especially well suited as his replacement, and instead of a golden chariot, we have introduced a stylized form of the Tetractys itself, embedded in the historical Metatron’s Cube. The resulting construct is reminiscent of the Merkabah (Chariot of Soul) in qabbalistic doctrine.
In place of the useless Holy Grail of bygone eras, we have exalted the Heaven Descending arrangement of the binary hexagrams, flanked by an infinite binary loop of black and white gems at outer edges, upholding the ternary Tridosha at center.
All accounted. we have an extremely potent standard of New Aeon alchemy defined here that will hold its ground and continue to instruct and inspire for centuries to come.
It is complete nonsense to imagine that the Chariot does not exemplify both inexhaustible Energy, as well as Balance, in one, as anyone with eyes can surely see!
Much of the problem with previous models has been its inappropriate positioning, linking an obsolete vestige of War (that has not even been used in war since Alexander the Great[!],) to Mars, instead of connecting the Supernals to Tiphareth via Binah (the Mother,) as indicated in the Proximity Principle. The corrected positioning figures prominently in its newly energized character, upholding the alchemical principle of levity as it always should have.
It is difficult to assess the amount of damage wrought by these erroneous adjustments, where the Chariot seems to have had no useful purpose other than being a kind of dime store mannequin! It is important that we ultimately reject that entire premise,as we have important work ahead, and need its strengths where they can do us the most possible good.
The Chariot we have unveiled in this deck is a proactive force of Completion ,lending its full force towards the immutable ascension of Tiphareth.
The Scene: The double-headed fire phoenix (aka the Hermes Phoenix) is an established standard of royalty throughout history – it is depicted on the shield of the Emperor and Empress in Thoth and appears on crests and flags all over the world. This mythical creature represents unquenchable magickal force and fire, speed and equilibrium, intelligence and insight in one. Its alliance provides us with a steady true progress along the road to liberation, enlightenment, and wisdom. The mysteries embedded in its shield are worthy of the Age of Hrw (Horus,) where the Royal Art of Alchemy will rise from its own ashes and reassume its proper place, as the vindicated Lamp of Eternal Truth.
This double-headed fire phoenix represents the synthesis of female and male royal intelligences. The Chariot is a vehicle of ascension, created by the willpower of two individuals bent on their wills. These are sexually joined forces, like Siva and Sakti, but the sex is of not merely a physical nature, but intellectual, spiritual and social.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:28:53 GMT
Atu VIII: Strength
Letter: ט Teth (T)
Number: 9
Proximity: Sephira #4 (Chesed) to Sephira #5 (Geburah)
Ruling Pentagram: Pent #19 "Secret of All Spiritual Activity" – Earth of 離 (Li) The Clinging, Fire (Above/Below,) Earth of 巽 (Sun) The Penetrating, Wind (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim said, let the waters swarm"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #30: 離 (Li) The Clinging
(Lower left) Air: Hex #30: 離 (Li) The Clinging
(Upper left) Water: Hex #29: 坎 (K’an) The Abysmal
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #29: 坎 (K’an) The Abysmal
Keywords (Dignified): Courageous, Health, Control, Defiance, Zeal, Matter over Mind and Mind over Matter (depending on the circumstance,) Attainment through Peril, Hidden Forces, Virility, Confident, Gregarious, Proud, Triumphant, Seductive, Bold, Innovative, Daring, Revolutionary, Progressive, Impenitent, Vigorous, Joyous, Ecstatic, Liberated, Uninhibited, Unrestrained
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Instability, Timidity, Illness, Weak, Vulnerable, Impulsive, Addiction, Helplessness, Tyranny, Sickness, Pettiness, Impotency, Succumbing
Interpretations
Historical: One of the things about the Strength card that is notable, is that it has not changed very much over the course of centuries. It has almost invariably depicted a woman, or rarely, a man, with a lion, either effortlessly riding it, or opening its mouth. One major change historically, was the swapping of Justice, with Strength, by the Golden Dawn, due to astrological assignments. It is still popular to place Strength at 8, and Justice at 11, to this day. Aleister Crowley decided to go with the older standard, and changed the name dramatically, but his imagery remained faithful to the old standard. It was originally called Fortitude by the GD. The key elements are the woman, and the lion. The woman appears to have controlled the lion somehow, whether through gentleness or some other means, she is sometimes said to represent the soul, where the lion is the anatomical body, with its baser instincts. In older decks, the woman is also breaking a pillar.
Golden Dawn: Called Fortitude (Daughter of the Flaming Sword), the Fortitude card corresponds to the zodiacal Leo and places between Sephira #4 (Chesed) and Sephira #5 (Geburah) in the Golden Dawn system.
It was the Golden Dawn that originally popularized the placement of Fortitude at Leo and Justice at Libra.
Thoth: Crowley decided to name this card Lust, and augmented the maiden's triumphant aspect. It has always had somewhat of a sexual undertone, so it's understandable why Crowley wanted to name it something bolder.
He swapped its traditional numeration of Strength/Fortitude VIII with Justice XI and named it Adjustment, but he did not change its position on the tree, which should be considered sloppy. The reasoning for the renumeration is not given, but for the change of the name itself he says "Technical analysis shows that the Path corresponding to the card is not the Strength of Geburah, but the influence from Chesed upon Geburah". This is overly simplified, and incorrect, in our opinion and we did not keep his change. The Lion was also transformed into the Beast of Revelations with its seven heads. That the beast she rides has a reptilian tail with a bulge at the end reminiscent of a scorpion's stinger was a purely coincidental similarity between Lady Harris's artwork and the Mushussu, a creature that is well known amongst students of Sumerian mythology, for having the stinger of a scorpion at the end of its tail.
This is one of many happy and auspicious coincidences shared between the MAT and the THOTH tarots, so that the MAT tarot probably has more in common with the artistic peculiarities of Lady Frieda Harris than the technical variations of Aleister Crowley.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: The doubles hexagram phenomenon occurs eight times in the Tree of Life/Yi Jing marriage in the Primordials arrangement. Teth means serpent, and Crowley regarded the beast on his card as a serpent-lion hybrid. There is no better precise creature to represent a serpent-lion hybrid than the composite animal of the god Ninazu and his son Ningishzidda, so that is the creature we chose to stand in for the lion. We didn't want to see the Book of Revelations get anymore attention on our watch, and so we saw no need to give it additional heads, although there is a form of the Ningishzidda animal called “Musmahhu” a water-mushussu with seven heads, but this would only be mistaken for the beast from the Book of Revelations.
Crowley talks a lot about doves in his chapter on the card, and it seems he has a pigeon fetish of some kind, as he never seems to tire of talking about this subject.
Flowers were included, in keeping with tradition. The flowers can be regarded as lusty and promiscuous creatures of nature certainly, but they also have a peculiar kind of strength in their innate abilities granted by evolution. Evolution is a grand kind of strength, and they are very clever in their alluring way.
There was a discussion between us as to whether to keep the Golden Dawn placement of eight or to keep them in their older stations. It was finally decided that the decision made by the Golden Dawn was correct and progressive. So far as we could see, the ruling pentagram agreed with it, as did the hexagrams and the Sephira proximity.
The Scene: The girl in the card, Sumerian royalty, rides on a Mushussu, a particular type of dragon from Sumerian mythology who represents unbridled chaos. Infinitely regenerative, truly immortal, and worshipped as protectors and the semi-divine devils of the desert, the Mushussu has strong links to the very ancient deities Tiamat and Abzu, who predated much of the later mythologies associated with them, (the Mardukian hogwash and so forth) by thousands of years.
They also conjure up images of the more recent concepts of Djinn imported from the Arabic Peninsula, during the territorial wars, as well as Pazuzu, in their winged form, depicted on the Ningishzidda Grail, housed today in the Louvre Museum.
Repeated here is the theme of Crowley’s Babalon, and the three worlds are illustrated: An, or Heaven, above, Ma, Earth in the middle, and Cthonic below; here we find a black cuneiform signpost reading "Irkalla" the Sumerian word for the underworld. And indeed, the Mushussu seems inclined to take his horny little passenger with her legs wide open down into the Palace of Ereshkigal. (Also the gate to Irkalla represents the gate to Geburah from the serene blue of Chesed if you didn't catch that.) For the moment he is just going to keep his paws in the stream though.
The dragon icon of Ninazu and Ningishzidda was able to travel between Heaven, Earth and The Underworld, whereas most creatures, even gods, were confined to one realm or another lest they find themselves trapped or troubled. These natural messengers of the Underworld were feared and admired, for they possessed secrets of Death that were and are a Great Mystery.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:34:43 GMT
IX: The Hermit
Letter: י Yod (I, Y)
Number: 10
Proximity: Sephira #4 (Chesed) to Sephira #6 (Tiphareth)
Ruling Pentagram: Pent #20 "Will" – Earth of 艮(Kên) Keeping Still, Mountain (Above/Below,) Water of 巽(Sun) The Penetrating, Wind (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim created great whales"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #56: 旅 (Lü) The Wanderer
(Lower left) Air: Hex #55: 豐 (Fêng) Abundance
(Upper left) Water: Hex #59: 渙 (Huan) Dispersion/Dissolution
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #60: 節 (Chieh) Limitation
Keywords (Dignified): Mysterious, Memory, Creative, Obscure, Hidden, Stealthy, Intense, Seclusion, Brilliant, Visionary, Unorthodox, Alchemical, Holistic, Ignitive, Inceptive, Innovative, Meticulous, Microcosmic, Intuitive, Analytical, Pregnancy esp. Late-Term Pregnancy, Sperm, Genetics
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Melancholy, Nihilism, Depression, Alienation, Fear, Apathy, Reclusive, Shut-in, Coldness, Disgust, Non-violent Sociopathy, Egomania, Evil Genius, Infertility
Interpretations
Historical: The "angel" wings of the Hermit have been with him in some decks, and you see this in the shape of his cloak in the Rider-Waite deck. Many decks, both old and new, have done away with them, probably as a matter of form, rather than function, as the symbology is rather accurate, hinting at Mercury, and Logos. His lamp is the most important feature, as it carries the "Light of the World." Not to be confused with the Christian idea, this light is peculiar to Spirit, and can be seen by those with appropriate sensitivities. Although it is the lamp of knowledge, it is also mezla, an Israelite term to describe the scintillating, differentiated light, subjected to darkness as it is seen coming down from the undifferentiated light of Ain. Usually it is shown inside is a six pointed star. His staff is obviously a representation of masculine, fertile power. Here is the sexual iconography of The Hermit, he is both the supersoul, and that part of the discarnate soul about to be born back into the world, called Atman. This soul will carry the Light of Ain Soph Aur with it and it is charged with spreading that light to the world. So he is that part of the soul which is eternal and also unborn. The Hermit never fully incarnates into the world, and he is enthroned in Binah.
As well as this, in the oldest Tarot, the Hermit is depicted as being well off, with rich clothing in royal colors of blue and gold. Notably, on the 15th-Century Italian Pierpont Morgan-Bergamo Visconti Sforza Tarot pack he has the same shoes as the Magician and carries an hourglass instead of a lamp.
Golden Dawn: Called The Hermit, Magus of the Voice of Light, the Hermit card corresponds to the zodiacal Virgo and places between Sephira #4 (Chesed,) and Sephira #6 (Tiphareth,) in the Golden Dawn system.
Thoth: Crowley, via Harris, did a great job portraying the Hermit's abode, and its"womb" appearance, with a spermatozoa wriggling towards his lamp and hand. The child being born into the world, and carrying its light, is integral to the Hermit's gift en gratis. Crowley says that the Hermit is the highest form of Mercury, Logos, the All-Father. As well, he states that he is adoring the Orphic Egg or the universe.
Furthermore, he states that Virgo represents the lowest, most receptive form of Earth which forms the crust of Hades, and, he equates the Hermit to both Mercury and Hades himself, being nearly the same, and he infers that they are. This of course points to Ningishzidda who is a Prince of Heaven and a Prince of the Underworld at once, and a prototype of Hermes but Crowley could never go this far, he did not have the research available to him.
It is the belief of The Abrahadabra Institute that Ningishzidda evolved into Hermes and that this mercurial archetype has been with mankind as a great friend from the people of the harsh Susiana plains in Iran and the temples of Sumer, to the frontispiece of Grand Central Station in New York City, The United States of America.
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: It is fortunate at least that Crowley liked men, because we can get a better view of The Empress, via the Hermit, now that the puzzle of the Changes and Sephiroth are resolved finally by The Abrahadabra Institute.
The Hermit shares a *secret alliance* with The Empress. They carry the very same hexagrams in different elemental positions. This is called a reciprocal inverse. Dragons are, of course, very promiscuous, so this is unsurprising, but it does not diminish her relationship to the Emperor. It is safe to say the Emperor and the Hermit are different facets of the same personage.
ATU IX is the number of the Lo Shu and so it can be said, The Lo Shu is The Hermit, (And thus the Tetractys as his number is 10,) therefore, The Hermits’ power is what brought about all Life in the Universe. The union of the Lo Shu's 9 and the Tetracty's 10 is of utmost importance and perhaps this can be said of The Hermit: he is entirely oppressed, and misunderstood, in this world. But this will be corrected. It has to be, if anything is to go right on Earth.
"And Elohim created Great Whales" is a benevolent if also slightly amusing pairing with the card. Whales are connected with memory and the Akashic records, but also Binah's earthly representation, the ocean, so it is not disharmonious with the Hermit. The intelligence of the step of creation is Will, and this is wholly perfect for the Hermit's position.
The Scene: The Hermit gets a six pointed star, but this time, surprise, it's the TwinStar! This unicursal sigil of the tetractys discovered by m1thr0s is at the heart of The Abrahadabra Institute's logo, nestled in the star of Babalon, but it is also one of the foundational elements of Mutational Alchemy praxis. The orphic egg is the symbol of transmutation, a universal representation of longevity and prosperity. Orphic eggs come to us from the very ancient Orphic religion, and are to be considered very auspicious.
The Hermit himself oversees the endeavor of guarding the egg, carrying with him the lamp, representing eternal Fire, the sheathe of Spirit, and the staff, representing masculine fertility, both very important aspects of the Hermit's symbology. Behind him stands the forest primeval, representing the unknown, verdant growth, and the ancient and hoary female virgin-whore universe, or, The Empress!
In a reading, the egg may be regarded as carrying the universe, or, a human being, (such as the questioner,) really anything biological undergoing transformation. It is most explicitly fractal in nature.
The specific girl in the egg, as a divine archetype, could be said to represent Virgo or Persephone, guarded by Hades-Mercury in the forest primeval where hundreds more dwell in their youth, guarded with light against the dark intricacies of complex variables that would lead to their doom. This also represents the goddess in her child aspect that leads to renewal and new growth.
In the Shakti cult the girl child is the penultimate supreme Goddess, all-powerful, all pervading, immaterial and virtuous. The purplish clouds are a Yin coloration of the Fire element. She represents the virgin life of all the beings in the forest as well, as it was originally intended in the highest heavens, with its infinite potential awaiting re-union with the further divisions of the masculine aspect of universe, Logos.
Crowley likened the Hermit to the physical life form spermatazoa, and I do not dislike or disagree with this, but DNA is perhaps an even more accurate avatar of The Hermit, the discovery of which came after Crowley's time.
The Hermit is also equatable to the shepherd, intuition and the subconscious of our minds that leads us through our own day to day jungles. The hermit is voice, "The Quiet Voice of Logos,” what the Hebrews called the “small voice of God.” The Hermit is fragile. It must be understood that like life itself which has its own strength in varied forms it is most strong in the realm of intellect. In this Logos is infinitely powerful in the realm of mind, and has a limitless potential to become into our universe, but that power is still waxing in our material world, so that the Hermit should be considered a delicate balance against other cards in any spread.
It would not be inappropriate to regard this card as the very essence of the evolution of life, not just DNA or spermatozoa as Crowley affiliated it with. However it is a strong portender of pregnancy if it shows up in answer to such a question, especially of a sacred child who is incarnating with the purpose of fulfilling the Will of Heaven.
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Post by Susurrator on May 14, 2019 23:36:14 GMT
Atu X: Fortune
Letter: כ Kaph (K), ך Kaph Final
Number: 20, 500F
Proximity: Sephira #4 (Chesed) to Sephira #7 (Netzach)
Ruling Pentagram: Pent #21 "Fulfilled Desire"– Earth of 兌 (Tui) The Joyous, Lake (Above/Below) Earth of 離(Li) The Clinging, Fire (Without/Within)
Berashith: "Elohim saw that it was good"
Corner Hexagrams:
(Upper right) Fire: Hex #38: 睽 (K’uei) Opposition
(Lower left) Air: Hex #37: 家人 (Chia Jȇn) The Family / Clan
(Upper left) Water: Hex #40: 解 (Hsieh) Deliverance
(Lower right) Earth: Hex #39: 蹇 (Chien) Obstruction
Keywords (Dignified): Change, Luck, Fate, Karma, Dharma, Cycles, Seasons, Opportunity, Aspirations, Challenges, Conflict, Danger, Reciprocity, Cause-and-Effect, Industry, Mechanism, Negotiation, Balance, Attachments
Keywords (Ill-Dignified): Stagnation, Misfortune, Gridlock, Blockades, Imbalance, Despair, Loss, Hopelessness, Horror
Interpretations
Historical: At some point in history, the winged, feminine form of Fortuna, became a sphinx, in so-called Egyptian tarots. She is said to be the same female on the Lovers, the Chariot, and Justice, in the oldest decks, such as the Visconti-Sforza pack. She is the one who has unmade the most powerful, and she cares nothing for worship. Figures surround the wheel, indicating the cyclical nature of fortune, summarized in the axiom "As the wheel rises, so must it fall." More importantly, the one at the top of the wheel is depicted as a Christ-like child, a possible warning to Christianity, which is sharply declining today in The United States of America. Indeed, a hint to this is found in the work of Giulio Ferrario, who states that the fourth figure, about to rise in the place of the child-like figure, says, in a monologue with Fortuna, "I shall reign, if Fortune pleases, and the wheel turns to the fourth place. I shall be above and rule all the world. How great my pleasure then! Virtue moves me to speak such words, because I plan to do justice and punish those who have maliciously robbed the men of good estate. What joy I shall have to be able to punish them!" (Giulio Ferrario, Poesie Pastorali e Rusticali: Alcune Poesie Inedite del Saviozzo et di altri autori, 1808) This curse against the status quo of the time echoes the future culling doctrine of modern Satanism, and the left-hand path.
Golden Dawn: Called the Wheel of Fortune Lord of the Forces of Life, the the Wheel of Fortune card corresponds to the planetary Jupiter and places between Sephira #4 (Chesed) and Sephira #7 (Netzach) in the Golden Dawn system.
The Golden Dawn grew up amidst a time when popular culture was fascinated with Egyptian culture. It’s no surprise to find the sphinx on this and other cards, such as the Chariot. The wheel itself is always present, but the four animals to the corners are not universal. The name of Ezekiel is often present, in reference to Ezekiel’s role in coordinating the fall of Jerusalem with Ha’shem.
Thoth: Stating that it is believed to be ruled by Jupiter, “Greater Fortune,” Crowley explains that Jupiter is not good luck, but luck itself. The wheel itself is the Sephiroth in spoked form, amidst an ever changing universe. He calls attention to the revolving nature of the Indian Gunas, and compares them to the alchemical qualities of sulphur, salt and mercury. The sphinx on top of the wheel in Fortune in Thoth represents sulphur, exalted. Hermanubis is to the left and represents Mercury, while Typhon to the right represents Salt. The lightning bolts in the scene are attributed to the destructive Siva (who was once called Rudra and is associated with storms.)
Mutational Alchemy Interpretation: The hexagrams, on Fortune, form a consecutive fluke, with #37, 38, 39, and 40. Starting with Opposition in the position of Fire, The Family in the position of Air, Obstruction in the position of Earth, and (following the East Asian chronology of the elemental hierarchy,) Deliverance in the position of Water, we get the image of sexual tension, followed by success being tied to “the perseverance of the woman,” in The Family, and pregnancy, followed by birth. This equates Fortune to the reproductive cycle, and pairs well with its classical alchemical traits. It also informs us that the nature of Fortune’s fickleness is connected to Love, and Life in general. Given that #37 and #38 are out of order we also get the idea of a kind of back and forth motion inferring the wheel isn’t bound to spinning one way. These mysteries are but a small sampling of the hundreds of curious insights The Mutational Alchemy Tarot has to offer for the intrepid occultist. We have not begun to scratch the surface of these mysteries.
The Pentagram’s Earth of Fire and Earth of Lake signifies the “Awakening of the Eld of the All-Father,” oft repeated by Aleister Crowley, as a key to the mysteries of the cthonic gods. In the Lo Shu we have a suitable All-Mother, and in the binary Trigrams we have a suitable All-Father to represent cosmic union. Here the sphinx are decorations, but wholly reinforce all of these ideas and more - they are the representatives of the Nu Aeon moving towards Hrumachis, reputedly an epithet for Lady Ma’at, Justice.
The Scene: The Lo Shu square is used in Feng Shui as the template for arranging Earth, in coordination with Heaven, to increase fortune. The arrangement of hexagrams in the “ba gua” style format is different from that which is usually used by Feng Shui masters. It is the essence, or shorthand version, of the P’an Ku movement, or descending heaven arrangement, which is also illustrated in more complex, yet essentially identical 64-hexagram format, on the Tree of Life.
The sphinx is present, the upper has a body of a cheetah, the lower the body of a lion. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, demonstrating fortune as something that is relative to the situation.
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