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Liber 777 (revised) (pdf) - Holy Order of the Golden Dawn Canada

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EXPLANATIONS OF THE ATTRIBUTIONS<br />

The Lobster and Crayfish are, so to speak, water scorpions. The Shark<br />

is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most martial inhabitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea. The Crablouse refers<br />

to Scorpio both by nature and habitat.<br />

25. The Centaur is traditionally connected with Archery, besides<br />

being partly a horse; <strong>the</strong> horse itself is connected with <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong><br />

hunting and speed. Note that <strong>the</strong> speed <strong>of</strong> Sagittarius, which is <strong>the</strong><br />

flickering <strong>of</strong> a dying fire, is not to be confused with <strong>the</strong> speed <strong>of</strong><br />

Mercury, which is <strong>the</strong> speed <strong>of</strong> thought or electricity. The Hippogriff<br />

combines <strong>the</strong> Horse <strong>of</strong> Mars with <strong>the</strong> Eagle <strong>of</strong> Jupiter. The Dog is<br />

sacred to <strong>the</strong> huntress Artemis.<br />

26. Capricornus means Goat. The Ass and <strong>the</strong> Oyster are<br />

traditionally sacred to Priapus. An animal is sacred to Capricorn in<br />

respect <strong>of</strong> its ambition, actual or symbolic. It is <strong>the</strong> leaping <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Goat<br />

and its fondness for high and barren mountains which connect it with<br />

Capricorn, <strong>the</strong> sign which represents <strong>the</strong> zenith in <strong>the</strong> Zodiac. Note that<br />

<strong>the</strong> sexual instinct should primarily be regarded as indicative <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ambition or aspiration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> animal to higher things.<br />

28. See line 11 for <strong>the</strong> first attribution. The Peacock is <strong>the</strong> bird <strong>of</strong><br />

Juno as Lady <strong>of</strong> Air and especially Aquarius, but <strong>the</strong> Peacock might<br />

also be referred to Tiphereth or even to Mercury and Sagittarius on<br />

account <strong>of</strong> its plumage. The vision <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Universal Peacock is<br />

connected with <strong>the</strong> Beatific Vision, in which <strong>the</strong> Universe is perceived<br />

as a whole in every part, as <strong>the</strong> essence <strong>of</strong> joy and beauty; but in its<br />

diversity this is connected with <strong>the</strong> symbolism <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rainbow, which<br />

refers to <strong>the</strong> middle stage in Alchemical working, when <strong>the</strong> Matter <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Work takes on a diversity <strong>of</strong> flashing colours. This, however, is<br />

connected not so much with <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> Sagittarius in itself as an<br />

isolated constellation, but with its position on <strong>the</strong> Tree <strong>of</strong> Life as<br />

leading from Yesod to Tiphereth. Samekh must <strong>the</strong>refore be regarded<br />

in this matter as <strong>the</strong> threshold <strong>of</strong> Tiphereth, even as Gimel is <strong>the</strong><br />

threshold <strong>of</strong> Ke<strong>the</strong>r, and Tau <strong>of</strong> Yesod. These three, <strong>the</strong>refore,<br />

constitute <strong>the</strong> three main balanced spiritual experiences in <strong>the</strong> way <strong>of</strong><br />

attainment.<br />

29. Pisces means Fish, but, as previously indicated, actual fish do<br />

99

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