Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

TheNeophyte Grade 71
SECTION 6: The Hebrew Alphabet
The Hebrew Alphabet was originally designed as a pictorial or
hieroglyphic alphabet similar to that of the Egyptians. Each letter is
a visual representation of an object. In addition to this however,
Hebrew is the primary alphabet of Western magic. Not only does
each letter have a literal meaning, but also an esoteric meaning, a
numerical value, a color, a sound and various other hidden correspondences
associated with it. The letters of the Hebrew Alphabet are sacred symbols
which attract real forces that the magician can orchestrate by the techniques
of visualization and vibration. These letters can also have a psychological influence
on the aspirant who meditates upon them-affecting changes in consciousness.
The importance of memorizing the Hebrew alphabet cannot be stressed
enough, for it is one tool that the magician will use constantly throughout his/her
ceremonial workings.
The twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet correspond to the twentytwo
Paths of the Tree of Life. Unlike English, Hebrew is written from right to left.
Inaddition to this, all of the Hebrew letters are consonants; there are no vowels. At
times the letters Yod and Vav may function as vowels, and the silent letters Aleph
and Ayin can be used to indicate the position of a vowel, but again none of these
letters are vowels. Itwas not until well into the Christian era that a system for indicating
vowels with a dagesh (or pointing) was developed in order to standardize
pronunciation. We will not enter into a discussion concerning the pointing system
here, but such information is readily available in modem Hebrew texts.
Please note that five of the Letters (Kaph, Mem, Nun, Peh, and Tzaddi)
have two forms associated with them. The second versions of these letters are
called Finals, and they are used whenever the letter occurs at the end of a word.
These Final letters also have different numeric values.