Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

The Theoricus Grade
241
It refers totheuniverse ascomposed ofthefourElements, totheKerubim, to
theQlippoth, andto theAstral Plane. It is theReflection of theSphere of
Saturn. It represents the connecting andbinding linkbetween the Material
andFormative Worlds, Assiah andYetzirah, and necessarily passes through
theAstral Plane, theAbode ofthe Elementals andthe Shells ofthe Dead. It
is theRending oftheVeil of the Tabernacle, whereon theKerubim andthe
Palm Trees are depicted. It is the passing oftheGate ofEden.
Go to the West of the altar and focus your attention on the Tarot Key of the Universe.
Say:
These ideas are symbolically resumed in therepresentation oftheTwentyfirst
KeyoftheTarot. Within theovalformed ofthe72circles, isafemale
form, nudesave for a scarfthatfloats round her. She is crowned with the
LunarCrescent ofIsis, andholds in her hands, twowands. Her legs form
a cross. She is the Bride of theApocalypse, the Qabalistic Queen of the
Canticles, theEgyptian Isis orgreat feminine Kerubic AngelSandalphon
on thelefthand of theMercy Seat oftheArk.
The Wands are thedirecting forces of thepositive andnegative currents.
The Seven Pointed Heptagram or Star alludes to the Seven Palaces of
Assiah, thecrossed legs to thesymbol oftheFour Letters of theName.
The surmounting crescent receives alike the influences of Geburah and
Gedulah. She is thesynthesis ofthe 32nd Path, unitingMalkuth toYesod.
The oval of the 72 smaller circles refer to the Schem ha-Mephoresch, or
Seventy-two foldName oftheDeity. The twelve larger circles refer to the
Zodiac. At theangles are thefour Kerubim which are thevivified powers
of the letters of theName Yod Heh Vav Heh operating in the Elements,
through which I have just symbolically passed.
Take a few moments to contemplate the Tarot card and its description before
continuing:
The Fan, Lamp, Cup and Salt represent thefour Elements themselves
whose inhabitants are theSylphs, Salamanders, Undines andGnomes.
Therefore I shall ever strive tobe prompt andactive like the Sylphs, butavoid
frivolity andcaprice. I shall endeavor tobe energetic and strong like the Salamanders,
butavoid irritability andferocity. I shall beflexible andattentive to
images, like the Undines, but avoid idleness and changeability. I shall be
laborious andpatient like the Gnomes, butavoid grossness andavarice.
So shall I gradually develop thepowers ofmy Soul, andfit myselftocommandtheSpirits
of Elements.