The Theosophical Seal - Canadian Theosophical Association

The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon
is useless and valueless and that man's contact with God is to be found directly through his own heart.
On the other hand there are those who feel that the way to God and the claim upon His blessing is more
readily realised through orderly and co-operative rituals. The purpose and value of ritualism in religious
worship is a subject which cannot be discussed at this point. [ See The Science of the Sacraments by
C.W.Leadbeater] The obvious intent of ceremonialism is to still the mind and the emotions that they may
become attuned and therefore receptive to spiritual influences. If as we may suppose the efficacy of this
gesture is enhanced by the intent and the earnestness of the one who makes it, we may rightly wonder if
without such strong intent the value of the action diminishes to a vanishing point. In other words,is there
virtue in the action itself apart from the will or desire of the one who performs the action We shall
consider this problem from as impartial and unprejudiced a point of view as we can. In the first place we
feel that the millions who make the sign of the cross neither know nor suspect a modus operandi behind
their action. The thing is done with the spontaneous automatism of breathing. The gesture is associated
vaguely, especially if accompanied with a prayer formula or rubric,with the "Trinity".
Our approach to an understanding of the problem must be predicated by an assumption that behind this
act there is a sincerity of intent and a reverent devotion on the part of the worshiper. In his mind there
exists, consciously or unconsciously, a certain idea , which repeated again and again,becomes for him a
miniature creed. We look to the fundamental philosophy behind the lines which comprise the cross. The
vertical line represents God the Father,not in a far-off Heaven,but descending to earth. It is the Life
Principle or Spirit impregnating matter. It is God Incarnate as "The Son", the "Word made flesh". The
horizontal line represents the matter of the Universe, (Latin Mater) the Mother as the receptive or
generative aspect of Deity. The union of these two lines is the sign of Man, who in his spiritual nature is
the Son of God, while in his form aspect is the son of the earth Thus the vertical line descends and
crosses the horizontal line and an infinite soul enters a finite body. In the movement of the hand upward,
touching the left shoulder and the right, the son of man rises again into his spiritual estate as Son of God.
Of course, the one who makes this "sign" over himself thinks of none of these things. He thinks of God as
Father sending down His blessing on behalf of His Son who having descended to earth gave Himself as
the sacrifice whereby we may also rise with Him to glory. These and kindred thoughts are packed
together in this sign as a kind of miniature creed. There is also the idea of being linked with God or with
our own higher Self, the sign itself being the sign of union or addition, as exemplified in the mathematical
"plus".Usually the "sign" is made, whether over the self or another, together with repetition of the "Words
of Power". We say, audibly or silently, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".
In the association of the gesture with the words of this mantram lies the key to its power; and a study of
the correspondences implied give us an understanding of the validity of its source and the method of its
operation. Indeed it might be said without exaggeration that an understanding of the correspondences
between God and Nature and between God and man is the ABC of occult wisdom. [See a detailed study
of these relationships made in this Book V under the heading "Interlaced Triangles".] Briefly stated, the
head, typifying the seat of the intelligence or will, is related to the "Father" aspect of God, the Divine Will.
The physical heart is the seat of man's purest love and is therefore associated with the love aspect of
God or the "Son". Universally the heart is the symbol of love. Similarly the arms and shoulders alluding to
man in his manifold activities types God in His Activity or Creative aspect, known in Christian terminology
as "the Holy Ghost".
When therefore while touching the forehead with the fingers of the right hand we say, "In the Name of the
Father", then bringing the hand to the heart (or solar plexus) we way, "and to the Son", then finally
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