Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

204 SELF-INTI1ATIONINTO TIlE GoLDEN DAWN TRADITION
Of Dan (Scorpio) Jacob says: "Danshall judgehis people as one of the tribes
of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, and adder in the path, that biteth the
horse's heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation,
o Lord." Moses says. "Danis a lion's whelp, he shall leap from Bashan." The armorial
bearings of Dan are Green, an Eagle. These things fit with the martial and fierce
nature of this Sign in which Mars principally bears sway. To the Sign of Scorpio, the
Egyptians attributed the Serpent, and also Typhon, the Slayer of Osiris, and on this
account they call it the"Accursed Sign." In good symbolism it is generally represented
by the Eagle. The horse's heels which the Serpent sometimes bites are found
in the Centaur figure of Sagittarius which follows Scorpio in the Zodiac.
Of Benjamin (Sagittarius) Jacob says, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in
the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil."
Moses says: "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord
shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders." The
armorial bearings of Benjamin are Green, a Wolf. These suit the character of Sagittarius,
partly keen, partly of the nature of Jupiter, and partly brutal.
Of Zebulon (Capricorn) Jacob says: "Zebulon shall dwell at the haven of
the sea, and he shall be for a haven of ships, and his border shall be unto Sidon."
Moses says: "Rejoice Zebulon in thy going out, and Issachar in thy tents, they shall
call the people unto the mountain, there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness,
for they shall suck of the abundance of the sea, of the treasures hid in the
sands." This suits well the tropical, Earthy and water signs of Capricorn and Cancer.
The armorial bearings of Zebulon are Purple, a.Ship.
Of Reuben (Aquarius) Jacob says: "Reuben, thou art my first-born, my
might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency
of power. Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel, because thou wentest up
to thy father's bed, then defiledst thou it; he went up to my couch." Moses says:
"Let Reuben live and not die, and let not his men be few." The armorial bearings
of Reuben are Red, a Man. "Unstable as water" is still shown in the undulating
hieroglyphic which marks this aerial and brilliant, but often superficial Sign of
the Water-Bearer.
Of Simeon and Levi (Pisces) Jacob says: "Simeon and Levi are brethren;
instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 0 my Soul, come not thou into their
secret, unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they
slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for
it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter
them in Israel." This alludes to their smiting Shalem, the city of Hamor and
Shechem, and slaying the latter because they had carried off Dinah, the daughter of
Leah. Moses says of them: "Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with the HolyOne,
whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the water of
Meribah; who said unto his father and mother, I have not seen him; neither did he
acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his children; for they have observed thyword,
and kept thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob thy judgments and Israel thy law:
they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Bless,
Lord, his substance, and accept the works of his hands; smite through the loins of