Lesson 1
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Elemental Polygons and Cabalistic Structure..
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The divine name and the process manifestation.
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Fire and water.
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The workspace around yourself.
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The workplace within.
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Being one with your will and with your emotions.
In this lesson you will become familiar with the second element of oneness: The element of Water. In choosing this sequence, we follow the structure of the Divine name Yod He Vau He. The first He in this name represents the element of water, or the astral plane.
Water
also appears as the exact opposite of the fire elce of life.
The zodiac
has 360 degrees. These 360 degrees refer to the 360 days (approximately)
that the Earth needs to orbit around the Sun.
Twenty-four
numbers divide the number 360 so that there is no remainder. These numbers
are: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 24, 30, 36, 40, 45,
60, 72, 90, 120, 180, and 360.
Two of
these numbers are not figurative. A figurative number is any number that
corresponds to a regular polygon. It is obvious that you cannot inscribe
a polygon in a circle that has one or two corners. You need at least three
points on the periphery of the circle to inscribe a polygon. Therefore
the numbers 1 and 2 are not figurative numbers. The other 22 numbers are
figurative. This means that each of these remaining 22 numbers represents
a regular polygon that we can inscribe in the circle of 360 degrees. Each
of these polygons represents an energetic state. Hence there are 22 energetic
states in the solar system that are well defined. The Hebrew alphabet consists
of 22 letters.he 22 numbers, we recognize soon that all of them are composed
of the three basic numbers of 1, 2, 3, and 5. The number 1 appears in all
numbers. You may regard it as the unifying principle. The numbers of 2,
3, and 5 relate to the "three mothers" of which you read in the cabalah.
Like the number 1, the number 2 is not figurative. It is expressed in the
4 which is its own multiple and figurative.
When the cabbalist refers to three mothers, seven double letters and 12 simple ones, he means the three elements above that which is conscious (the earth element), seven planetary principles, and the twelve zodiacal modifiers.
The three mother letters are Aleph, Mim, and Schin, relating the cards of the Tarot: the Magician, Death, and the Fool. They are the square, the pentagon, and the triangle. The fourth element, earth, is in all other principles: the seven double ones and the twelve simple ones. Its representation is the pentagram.
Double principles are represented by numbers that you can divide by a double 3, i.e., a 9. The exception here must be 360, which is an expression of all.
Some systems of magic of the planetary spheres ascribe a number of planetary spirits, or genii, to each sphere that corresponds to the number of its polygon: 9 to the sphere of Saturn, 18 to the sphere of Jupiter, 36 to the sphere of Mars, 45 genii to the sphere of the Sun, 72 to the sphere of Mercury, 90 to the sphere of Venus, and 180 spirits to the sphere of the Moon. The 360 relates to the Earth, which is manifestation, not planetary function.
If your
intent is to align the elements within as a relation to the generalized
universal principles that they can express, you will do well to utilize
the zodiacal polygons that represent these principles: The triangle, the
pentagon, the square is Vau, the pentagram is the second He. It is interesting
to note that the polygon with five points if the first one that can be
inscribed in a circle in two regular shapes: a pentagon and a pentagram.
This is expressed in the Divine name that has two letters He. Incidentally
the letter He is also the fifth letter in the Hebrew Alphabet.
The triangle relates to the spark that sets things in motion. Its correlate within ourselves is our will. In the cosmos it is the world of emanation. It is the power to say the "there is" ("let there be").
We find its opposite in the water element, as expressed in the pentagon. The five is the second figurative prime number. The qualities of water are cold and humid, as opposed to the hot and dry of fire. It correlates to our emotions. In the cosmos it is the world of formation. Water represents life while fire represents light. Water and fire are considered to be the basic elements while the other two elements are regarded to be interactions between the two primary elements. Water is desire to manifest that goes with all life. It is desire and formation. Fire is will to create.
The air element is interaction between fire and water. It creates the matrices that are necessary for manifestation. It structures, organizes, and adjusts. Anything that you intend to create needs a mental form that determines its relations within the planes of existence. It is dual, relating to both fire and water and allowing the interaction of these two primary elements in the process of manifestation. The square is a geometric shape that lies between the triangle and the pentagon. The four is no prime number. It is 2 x 2, the double of a prime number or a prime number multiplied by itself. It expresses the dual nature of our thinking, but also the organizing of all there is perceived into the four elements, again 2 x 2. The four represents the structural qualities of the mental plane that we perceive. You can see our mind as a sensory organ that perceives forms in the mental plane. It is a sensory organ that orders the many other perceptions that we receive and that continuously abstracts from the primary impressions and from primary abstractions on the objective, unspeakable, levels so that we can function in our environment.
The earth element finally is manifestation that springs from the interaction of fire with water. This is beautifully expressed in the second geometric shape with five points in a circle, the pentagram. This shape is a pentagram that is surrounded by five triangles. It is coter the world of consciousness (the material plane) from the world of desire (the astral plane) and to manifest there, usually on the etheric level. The evocative magician uses a triangle in which the astral being can manifest. The astral being that is symbolized by the pentagon gains the quality of the triangle so that it can become manifest in consciousness. In the process of evocation the pentagon transforms into the pentagram.
The earth element as symbolized in the pentagram then obviously is the
synthesis of the other elements, or planes. Things have to be conscious
to exist. The pentagram contains the other elements. All elements are traced
within the circle that represents the universe as a whole, conscious and
non conscious. Keep these relationships in mind when you proceed to practice
oneness with the Divine.
As in the previous lesson, you have a circle around yourself. The table is outside your circle. Lay out a triangle on the table. You may surround this triangle by a circle.
Put a cup with water inside the triangle. You may put the cup on an elemental design that represents water: the pentagon. As soon as you begin with your operation this set up is going to connect with the realms of the water element.
To boost
this process you visualize yourself drawing energy from the water element
and to push it into the triangle. Imagine this energy being blue. Proceed
to do so until you feel good about what you have achieved.
The purpose of this experience, of course, is that you become familiar with the energies that are in the realm of the water element and to understand the overall importance of this realm. With practice you can have this realm present for your magical work whenever you desire so.
Leave
the realm of the water element whenever you feel an urge to do so. While
you are in this inner realm be aware that this realm connects with your
outer realm and with the cosmic realm of the water element.
For this
practice, imagine yourself in the center of a circle, or sphere, that surrounds
you. In front of yourself you see a flaming red triangle. You notice that
this triangle is an ever present gate to the fire element. In it you see
many forms of fire, perhaps also fire spirits and any other things that
connect with the fire element.
Now you
mentally repeat to yourself six times:
I
am all will.
You may imagine the words written in front of you in flaming letters. You may feel the heat of the written words. You may imagine hearing the sounds of fire. The more sensory imagination you include the better the results will be. Each time you say "I am all will" you focus on your inner realm of fire. Next you say once:
I am
One.
Repeat
this sequence at least three times.
Next
you see a blue watery pentagon to your left side. You know that this pentagon
is your ever present gate to the realm of the water element. In it you
notice water in many of its appearances, one within the other like three
dimensional transparencies. You may also notice Undines, or spirits of
the water element. This time you will not pay them any particular attention.
Next you
repeat mentally to yourself six times:
I
am all emotions
You may imagine these words written in front of you in blue watery letters. You may feel the coolness and humidity of water. You may imagine hearing the many sounds of water. The more sensory imagination you include the better the results will be. Each time you say "I am all emotions" you focus on your inner realm of water. Next say once:
I am
One.
Repeat
this sequence at least three times. You may interrupt here or you may proceed
as follows:
Repeat
six times:
Will
and emotions are aligned and One
Repeat
one time:
I
am One
Again
you repeat this sequence at least three times. Keep up the connection with
the realms of the elements. You will find your individual way of doing
this.
It is O.K. to repeat more often than just three times for each sequence. You may also practice each section (fire and water) individually.
After 1 you have practiced the whole sequence at least five times, you may proceed to your next lesson.