Kabbalah-of-the-Golden-Dawn-Pat-Zalewski - D Ank Unlimited

92 The Kabbalah ofthe Golden Dawn
Do not think that man is but flesh, skin, bones and
veins; far from it! What really makes man is his soul;
and the things we call skin, flesh, bones and veins are
but a garment, a cloak; they do not constitute man.
When man departs this earth, he divests himself of all
veils that conceal him. Yet, the different parts of the
body conform to the secrets of the supreme wisdom. The
skin represents the firmament, which extends everything
and covers everything like a cloak. The flesh
recalls the evil side of the universe (the purely external
and tangible element) The bones and veins represent
the celestial chariot, the forces that exist within, the servants
of God. However, all this is but a cloak; for the
deep mystery of celestial man is within. Celestial Adam
is as spiritual as terrestrial man, and everything happens
below as it does on high. Therefore it is written in scriptures:
"And God created man in His own image" yet,
different figures formed by the stars and planets in the
firmament that envelops us betoken hidden matters and
profound mysteries-so do the figures and lines on the
skin which encompasses the human body and are the
body's stars and planets. All these signs have a hidden
meaning and are the objects of attention of wise men
who know how to read the face of man.
Following the lead of the above paragraph, we find that in the
Zahar 88 there are some very rigid rules of what is now called physiognomy,
or the study of one's physical features to determine one's worth or character.
Apart from this, there is also a discourse on palmistry.89 Within the
Golden Dawn and later Alpha et Omega temples under Mathers the lecture
on palmistry which is taken from the 2ahar. The astrological breakdown
of man, as given from a Golden Dawn tahulation,90 and as applied
to the Kabbalistic Paths, is as shown on the following page. 91
B8Volume 3, folios 70b· 75b.
89 Vol. 3, Falla 78.
90 This is from a document called "Book of General Correspondences," which was published by
Crow ley as 777.
9\ For a more detailed tabulation see RulershlP Bookby Rex E. Bills.