Sunday, January 17, 2010

Sephirotic Attributions to the Neophyte Hall



AL TINNIN VAULT

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SEPHIROTIC ATTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEOPHYTE HALL

THE Z-1 ADDENDUM FOR THE ADVANCED ZAM


INTRODUCTION
Many paradigms are present in the 0 = 0 ceremony, and most importantly we find the Sephirotic Tree of Life. In the preliminary Z-1 document, the ten officers are attributed to the ten spheres on the tree, but it is not entirely clear that this is the case. In this paper, the relationship is analyzed in an attempt to clarify it from the original Z-1, which I contend has a few minor omissions in it. Throughout the course of this paper, we will find that in the Neophyte Hall there are not one, but three completely different and distinct models of the Tree of Life which may be considered to be working simultaneously.
They are all Sepherotic, but cover different areas of influence.
The first model is of the emblems and regalia of the Officers as attributed to the full ten Sepheroth of the Tree of Life, this is an ideal model.
The second model is based around the temple's furnishings, and is a vertical or upright model.
The third model is based on the energies of the Officers auras in the astral world, and it is a horizontal model.
The most important point of this section is that the interaction between the latter two models is much like the elemental cross. This chiefly bound by the interaction of the Hierophant, when he is east of the altar (with the aid of the Officers through the ritual), and the Candidate when he stands just west of the altar in Malkuth. As the Magician in the Outer Order repeats the Qabalistic Cross, he actually ties these models together into a central point. These three paradigms creates a theoretical X, Y, and Z axis as described in mathematics, and as is meditated upon in the official practices by the Initiates of our Outer Order.


MODEL ONE
THE EMBLEMATIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE OUTER ORDER
The first model of the Tree of Life seems obvious when listed, but it does not appear in print anywhere as of yet. This is the most important, and hitherto-fore most neglected model places the emblems and regalia of the Officers as attributed to the full ten Sepheroth of the Tree of Life. We shall term it the 'Emblematic Tree of Life in the Outer Order.'



TABLE I
THE EMBLEMATIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE OUTER ORDER

#
Officers
Sephera
Sepherotic Regalia
Other Regalia
1
Hierophant
Kether
Crown Sceptre
Banner of the East, Lamen, Red Mantle
2
Hegemon
Chokmah
Mitre Sceptre, Lamen
White Mantle
3
Hierus
Binah
Lamen
Banner of the West, Sword, Black Mantle
4
Praemonstrator
Chesed
Maltese Cross Sceptre
Lamen, Blue Mantle
5
Imperator
Geburah
Sword
Lamen, Red Mantle
6
Cancellarius
Tiphareth
Hexagram Sceptre
Lamen, Yellow Mantle
7
Dadouchos
Netzach
Lamen of Hermetic Cross
Censer
8
Stolistes
Hod
Lamen of Cup
Water Cup
9
Kerux
Yesod
Lamen of Caduceus
Wand and Lamp
10
Sentinel
Malkuth
Outer Door to the Hall
Sword, Lamen



DESCRIPTION OF TABLE I
Here follows a descriptive list of how the attributions line up in table 1. This list is not to be considered to replace the full descriptions of the Officers in Z-1, it is merely a supportive summary of the sepherotic model, as summarised above.
1. The Very Honoured Hierophant bears the Crown Sceptre, which is a symbol of Kether. He also wears the Red Mantle which represents the rising light of the eastern sun, the Middle Pillar and the fiery spirit in all of the Outer Order imagery. In the ritual he portrays the Yechidah or higher self of the Candidate.
2. The Honoured Hegemon bears the split Mitre Sceptre which is dual; and the Calvary Cross Lamen, which in its simplest form is the linear figure for Chokmah. He also wears the White Mantle, which represents the blinding light of the noon-day sun, and the White Pillar in the Outer Order, particularly in the Zelator ritual. He represents the Chiah, or higher will of the Candidate.
3. The Honoured Hierus bears a Lamen of a Triangle, which is the linear figure for Binah. He also wears the Black Mantle, which represents the setting sun and the darkness of night, and the Black Pillar in the Outer Order as described in the Zelator ritual. He represents the Neshamah and the highest aspirations of the soul of the Candidate.
Before we continue, a word must be said to clarify the parts of the Cabbalistic Soul as given to the last two Officers, for it is the Hegemon is classically said to represent the Neschamah in Z-1, not the Heirus. However, if we take a good look at the Sepherotic attributions, this is slightly askew at first glance, as it seems they have switched. The Neschamah, as should be well known to the Adepts of the Order, is attributed to all three spheres of the supernal triad, and is most especially attributed to the Hegemon. This is fitting, as the Hegemon is the guide to the Candidate through the Outer Order rituals. However, a very deep concept is intimated by the fact that it is really the Hierus who has the Neschamah fully centred upon, and this is the gift of crisis, “by which means a pathway shall be opened onto that light” as it was set down in On the General Guidance and Purification of the Soul, as given to the Practicus of the Outer.
4. The Praemonstrator bears the Sceptre topped with the Maltese Cross, the four triangular flanges of which mark the numeral four, which is the linear number of Chesed, and he bears the Blue Mantle of that sphere.
5. The Imperator bears the Sword of Severity, which is the emblem of Mars and Geburah, and he bears the Red Mantle of that sphere.
6. The Cancellarius bears the Sceptre topped with the Hexagram, the points of which mark the numeral six, which is the linear number of Tiphareth, and he bears the Yellow Mantle of that sphere.
7. The Dadouchos is attributed to Netzach. He is allied to the White Pillar whose base is is Netzach as per Z-1. This is attested to by the fact that his Lamen of Hermetic Cross is a fiery symbol like that sphere, and his censer is the emblem of the Lake of Fire and the Burning Bush.
8. The Stolistes is attributed to Hod. He is allied to the Black Pillar whose base is in Hod, as per Z-1. This is attested to by the fact that his Lamen of the Cup is the Admission Badge to that sphere, and his Water Cup is the emblem of the Holy Graal and the Well of Water.
9. The Kerux is attributed to Yesod. His Lamp and Wand is a symbol of light, and refer to the Psychopomp or Hermes, who guided the soul after death in Greek Myth, a meaning which is reinforced by the ritual, and well as being summarised by his Lamen. This is confirmed by the fact that his Lamen of the Caduceus is the Admission Badge to that sphere.
Items 4 to 9 are the Ruach or mental body of the Candidate.
10. The Sentinel is without the temple, so he represents the door or gate of troaa, which is another title of Malkuth as given in the Zelator Ritual. He is the Nephesh and G'uph of the Candidate, and is thus always on guard against the shadows of the self and of the world, just as the autonomic nervous system is always awake and vigilant.



ILLUSTRATION I
THE EMBLEMATIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE OUTER ORDER



MODEL TWO
THE CUBICAL TREE OF LIFE IN THE 0 = 0 HALL

This second model of the Tree of Life is based around the temple furnishings, and is only compared to the tree below Paroketh. We shall call it ‘The Cubical Tree of Life in the 0 = 0 Hall’. Termed the physical or Cubical Tree for short, it is attached to the furnishings of the Masonic four stone blocks or "cubes" used as the altar and the pillar bases. This model of the Cubical Tree explores the dimension of height, and is an upright model. The double cubical altar has for its bottom cube Malkuth, and the second cube forming the top of the pedestal altar or small column is Yesod. The pillar bases are of course Hod and Netzach, as shown in the traditional Z-1. The shafts of the pillars rise up the paths of Mem and Kaph, respectively, but find themselves terminating at Paroketh with these two triangles, which are none-other than the divided hexagram of Tiphareth. These triangles are split apart and placed onto the two pillars as the tetrahedrons to represent the demarcation of the Veil of Paroketh on each pillar. Standing west of the altar and viewing this vertical tree, our depth perception reinforces the image of a vertical tree.
In the 0 = 0 Hall and the Outer Order, the paths are marked by the Officer's wands and swords. This is not to be confused with the Admission Badges of the other Outer Order grades.


TABLE II
THE CUBICAL TREE OF LIFE IN THE 0 = 0 HALL
1.
Path #
2.
Path Name
3.
Furnishing in the Temple
4.
Officers Wands and Swords
1
Kether

Far east of the Veil of Paroketh
Crown on Hierophant's Sceptre
2
Chokmah
Split Mitre on Hegemon's Sceptre
3
Binah
Tip of Hierus' Sword

Daath
N/A
Upper ring on Hierophant's Crown Sceptre
4
Chesed

Just east of the Veil of Paroketh
Upper ring on Hegemon's Split-Mitre Sceptre,
Maltese Cross on Praemonstrator's Scepter
5
Geburah
Point of slashing impact on Hierus' Sword of Severity,
Tip of Imperator's Sword
6
Tiphareth
Tetrahedronal Capitols on the Pillars
Lower ring on Hierophant's Crown Sceptre,
Hexagram on Cancellarius' Sceptre
7
Netzach
Base of White Pillar
Upper ring on Hegemon's Split-Mitre Sceptre,
Ring on Praemonstrator's Scepter
8
Hod
Base of Black Pillar
Hilt of the Hierus' Sword of Severity,
Hilt of Imperator's Sword
9
Yesod
Top of Double-Cube Altar
Lower ring on Hierophant's Crown Sceptre,
Ring on Cancellarius' Sceptre
10
Malkuth
Bottom of Double-Cube Altar
Spherical pommels of all the listed wands and swords
11
Aleph


12
Beth


13
Gimel

Upper and upper centre shaft or grip of Hierophant's Crown Sceptre
14
Daleth


15
Heh


16
Vav

Upper shaft or grip of the Hegmon's Split-Mitre Sceptre
17
Zain


18
Cheth

Upper blade of the Hierus' Sword of Severity
19
Teth


20
Yod


21
Kaph
Lower half of the White Pillar or Column
Upper ring on Hegemon's Split-Mitre Sceptre,
Main shaft on Praemonstrator's Scepter
22
Mem
Lower half of the Black Pillar or Column
Lower blade of the Hierus' Sword of Severity,
Blade of Imperator's Sword
23
Lamed


24
Nun


25
Samech

Lower central shaft of Hierophant's Crown Sceptre,
Shaft on Cancellarius' Sceptre
26
Ayin


27
Peh


28
Tzaddi


29
Qoph

Upper ring on Hegemon's Split-Mitre Sceptre,
Grip of Praemonstrator's Scepter
30
Resh


31
Shin

Handle of the Hierus' Sword of Severity,
Handle of Imperator's Sword
32
Tav

Bottom shaft or grip of Hierophant's Crown Sceptre,
Grip of Cancellarius' Sceptre


DESCRIPTION OF TABLE II
This arrangement shows how the columns of the Pillars are formed of the same sections of the Tree of Life that some of the Sceptres and Swords symbolise, thus affirming their relationship with the pillars.
The Hierophant's Crown Sceptre is gripped by Tav, as is the Cancellarius' Sceptre.
The Hegemon's and Praemonstrator's Sceptres are gripped by Qoph, and rise through the White Pillar.
The Hierus' and Imperator's Swords are gripped by Shin, and rise through the Black Pillar.
It is important that all the Chief's Weapons terminate not at the Veil of Paroketh, but in the second triad of the Second Order.
If the Candidate is the Middle Pillar, then he is being gripped by the Hierophant during the ritual, and it is THE NEW CANDIDATE'S CROWN AND PERSONAL SPHERES ON THE TREE OF LIFE that are being activated by the Hierophant, the Three Chiefs, and the team of Officers.
Meanwhile the Hermetic nature of the Order is also being transmitted by the Cancellarius through his Sceptre by the Tav grip as Hermes and Thoth creating the Universe.
The heads of the Sceptres and points or tips of the Swords of the Three Principal Officers and the Three Chiefs mark the influence of the first six spheres in both the Auric and Cubical models. This is very important, and is further entered into in the paper entitled Planetary Attributions to the Neophyte Hall, which is also for the advanced ZAM.
The pommels of all the weapons are equated with the altar, therefore showing the relationship between the rap on the altar or side-altar and the masonic step and stomp on the floor when the Candidate is brought to the light. This stomp connects the Auric horizontal and the Cubic vertical Trees with the third tree of the ideal symbolism as represented by the Officer's regalia, and particularly thier Sceptres. These three models operate together much like an X, Y and Z axis.
One also immediately notices that there are missing paths in the third column of table 2. These are neatly marked by certain pair of Inner Order weapons on the altar at the 5 = 6: the Crook and the Scourge of the Chief Adept.



ILLUSTRATION II
THE CUBICAL TREE OF LIFE IN THE OUTER ORDER






MODEL THREE
THE AURIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE 0 = 0 HALL
The third model is based on the energies of the Officers auras in the astral world, and it too is only below the Veil of Paroketh. This shall be termed ‘The Auric Tree of Life in the 0 = 0 Hall’. Called the astral or Auric Tree for short, is nearly identical to the familiar Z-1 document, and here we may term it an energetic tree, and theorise that it is made on an energetic level of the Officer's auric fields.
The Auric Tree explores the dimension of length, and is a horizontal model along on the temple floor, i.e. one looks down on it with a bird's eye view. It is made of the God-Forms and
the energies of the Auras of the Officers. This Auric model is nearly identical to the Z-1 Document, save in the following point. The one exception is that this Auric model includes the Stolistes and Dadouchos on the tree as Hod and Netzach, while Z-1 does not. They are easily included in the spheres as they are already allied to the pillars, along with the corresponding Chiefs on the Dais. This is preferred to leaving them off the tree, as now all the officers are part of the same model. Z-1 clearly states that they are allied to the pillars. To support this, we may merely ponder that as a pair they are already the elements of water and fire of the four directions in the Equinox ritual, and any beginner to our system can recall that the four elements are also attributed to the four lowest spheres on the Tree of Life. So, this new arrangement puts the four elemental Officers Lamens on the tree, though of course in a different order than the Admission Badges.
When looking at table 3 and the corresponding illustration 2, it is best to keep in mind that in any temple hall, from the most opulent to the most humble, there will be physical features that need not be considered limitations that will inevitable cause variations in the ideal format which these diagrams represent.

TABLE III
THE AURIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE 0 = 0 HALL

#
Officer
Auric Tree Location
1
Hierophant
Upper Samech below the veil
2
Hegemon
At the intersection of Peh and Samech
3
Hierus
Earth of Earth in Malkuth
4
Praemonstrator
Upper Kaph below the veil
5
Imperator
Upper Mem below the veil
6
Cancellarius
Left of Samech below the veil
7
Dadouchos
Netzach
8
Stolistes
Hod
9
Kerux
South West, at the Inner Door
10
Sentinel
Outside the Door


DESCRIPTION OF TABLE III
1. The V.H. Hierophant's throne is before the Veil on the path of Samech leading to Tiphareth.
2. The H. Hegemon's throne is at the intersection of Peh and Samech.
3. The H. Hierus' throne is at Earth of Earth in Malkuth.
4. The V.H. Praemonstrator's throne is before the Veil, on the path of Kaph leading to Chesed.
5. The V.H. Imperator's throne is before the Veil on the path of Mem leading to Geburah.
6. The V.H. Cancelarius' throne is before the Veil, to the left of the path of Samech leading to Tiphareth.
7. The Dadouchos' throne is in Netzach.
8. The Stolistes' throne is in Hod.
9. The Kerux's throne is in the south-west, guarding the inner door.
10. The Sentinel's throne is in the west, outside the hall guarding the outer door.



ILLUSTRATION III
THE AURIC TREE OF LIFE IN THE 0 = 0 HALL





CONTRASTING TABLES I & II
THE OFFICERS REGALIA AND AURIC PLACEMENTS
Let us keep distinct the difference between tables 1 and 2, which we shall again summarise here. Table one is The Emblematic Tree of Life, and it is a ranking of the Officers symbolic regalia. Table 2 is the actual Auric energies the Chiefs, Officers, and Members create, mainly based on the Z-1 Document, with very slight corrections.
The following is very important in understanding this section of the paper: we must stress the difference between the actual spheres that the Officer's represent as shown by their regalia and shown in table 1, and the placement or throne Locations on the lower portion of the Tree of Life which are located in the Auric tree or revised Z-1, and shown in table 2. Without a good understanding of this, the following summary of our train of thought thus far will be most unhelpful to the ZAM.
1. The Very Honoured Hierophant sits on the path of Samech at Paroketh leading to Tiphareth, but as he bears the Crown Sceptre, he is really a representation of Kether and the Yechidah of the Candidate.
The shaft of his sceptre represents the middle pillar, and marks the path he walks to greet the candidate at the altar, as each of the following sections reiterates on the various planes. He grips the shaft by the path of Tav, just as he grips the Candidate during the Obligation, and when first exchanging the token.
2. The Honoured Hegemon sits at the intersection of Peh and Samech, but as he bears the split Mitre Headed Sceptre that bears the cross of Chokmah, as does his Lamen, among other things. He therefore represents Chokmah and the Chiah or true will of the Candidate.
3. The Honoured Hierus sits in the west of the temple, in Earth of Earth of Malkuth, but he bears the Sword of the pillar of severity he is really representing Binah. The triangular Lamen, apart from many other meanings, is the symbol of Binah and the Neschamah, which is summarised in that sphere.
4. The Greatly Honoured Praemonstrator sits at the Veil of Paroketh, but as his Maltese Cross sceptre and the blue colour of his mantle suggest, he represents the memory and higher learning of the sphere of Chesed.
5. The Very Honoured Imperator sits at the Veil of Paroketh, but as his Sword and the red colour of his mantle suggest, he represents the impetus and leadership of the sphere of Geburah.
6. The Very Honoured Cancellarius also sits at the Veil of Paroketh, but as his Hexagram sceptre and the yellow colour of his mantle suggest, he is the only officer on the dais that truly represents the sphere of Tiphareth, all of the others are just the refracted light of the higher spheres through the crystalline veil of Paroketh. He represents the harmonious conjunction and cessation of opposites in the communion and balance of Tiphareth.
7. The Dadouchos sits and is attributed to Netzach, the lowest sphere of fire, and he is the fire-bearer. His Lamen suggests the stellar or solar whirl of the creation of the elements and spiritual fire.
8. The Stolistes sits and is attributed to Hod, the lowest sphere of water, and is the water bearer. His Lamen is the admission badge to Hod. The Cup of water, the final home of the spirit in communion with the elements at the Eucharist.
9. The Kerux sits at the south-west, and makes the announcements in the north-east, but he is is really representative of Yesod, as his Lamen is the admission badge thereof. This Officer bears the herald staff and the Lamen design is the caduceus. He is representative of the lowest sphere of air.
10. The Sentinel is without the west of the hall, guarding the outer portal. As the last Officer in the scheme, he fittingly represents Malkuth. His Lamen is the eye of Ayin and Capricornus, the earthy goat god.



CONTRASTING TABLES II & III
THE CUBICAL TREE AND THE OFFICERS AURIC PLACEMENTS
Furthermore, the two models of the Cubical and Auric Trees interact as follows.
The incorporation of these new Cubical and Auric paradigms also has the virtue of straightening the Auric model of the Tree of Life from Z-1 into the more traditional geometrical form we are familiar with in the Golden Dawn tradition.
The altar in the cubical model sits in the Air of Earth position of Malkuth in the energetic model. The pillar bases in the cubical model are still allied energetically to the Stolistes and Dadouchos.
This also makes the triangle of manifestation attributed to Yesod be placed on the cubical Altar in one model, and on the floor east of the altar in the other model.
On the altar the higher self manifests in the triangle of the Order when the candidate places his or her hand upon it during the Obligation and Prayer, for here it behaves much like the Triangle of Art. This link is sealed when the Very Honoured Hierophant touches the Candidates hand during these two occasions, as the prayer and obligation aid in manifesting the Candidate’s higher self.
The Evil Persona is tied to both to the Yesod of the Auric Tree, and the Yesod of the Altar, but then, so is the manifestation of the Yechidah or higher self, represented by the Very Honoured Hierophant coming to that same place. That is why the Hierophant touches the Candidates hand over the triangle during the prayer and Obligation. This action of the higher self holds the Evil Persona in place from above and below. On the floor, the Very Honoured Hierophant also manifests the higher self, which steps down on the evil persona, holding it in check. This is a precursor to the same symbolism of the floor of the Vault.
In classical evocation, two older authorities, Aleister Crowley and Dr. Thomas Rudd, support this application of what we now term the Z-2 formula.
In Crowley’s description of the Magic Circle in MTP, he places the three tiny diamond symbols just inside the circle to mark the corners of a second, larger triangle that the magician stands inside during the evocation. The intimation is that “(as the spirit is in the triangle to the magician, so is the magician in the circle or triangle to god.)” Always seemingly unconventional and brilliant on his own, when this insight is placed into its true context, one can see that it is clearly gleaned from Z-2 and this portion of the Neophyte Ritual.
In Rudd’s Goetic work, the Triangle of Art as a large fixture outside the circle is often forgone for placing a crystal upon the altar, often over a small triangle. The magician is seated on a throne, and scrys the spirit through the show-stone. Thus in Z-2 terms, the triangle is either east of the circle in the energetic or Auric Yesod, or the crystal is placed on the altar in the Cubical Yesod.
These two well-respected and innovative magicians provide excellent examples of the method of manifestation that is echoed in the later Z-2 Formula of the R.R. et A.C.



SUMMARY
In summary, the use of these three distinct models instead of just the single traditional plan of Z-1 better illustrates the symbolism of the 0 = 0 Hall. Possibly this was the original intention of Z-1, which may have been obscured and muddied in the original author’s execution of that important foundational document.
We have discussed the three Tree of Life paradigms. The first was the regalia andSceptre tops on all ten spheres of the tree; the second was the vertical or Cubical model of the furniture of the temple on the lower half of the tree; and the third was a slight variation of the classic Z-1 document where the lower half of the tree is projected on the temple, from the Very Honoured Hierophant's throne before the Veil of Paroketh at Tiphareth in the east, all the way to the Honoured Hierus and Earth of Earth in Malkuth in the west, like a birds-eye view or map of the entire Outer Order. It is this paradigm that is repeated in the Portal Grade as a summary of the territory covered in the Outer Order, and it is Portal where we learn that the entire Outer Order “quitteth not Malkuth.”
These three models interact like an X, Y, and Z axis in the 0 = 0 Ceremony, and this is confirmed in the Zelator Ceremony when the Neophyte becomes a full Initiate. The Zelator opening ceremony incorporates the Qabalistic Cross, and over the fourth dimention of time, the Initiate binds these models to his own auric sphere by constant repetition of the QC and the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram during his sojourn in the Outer Order.