Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

296 SELF-INITIATION INTO THE GOLDEN DAWN TRADmON
unites the paths but does not touch any of the Sephiroth, which are linked by the
Flaming Sword.
The Serpent of Wisdom is formed by the natural order of the twenty-two
paths. It is the ascending reflux current of energy which aspires unto the Divine
(whereas the Flaming Sword alludes to the rush of divine energy descending into
manifestation). The Serpent also traces the path of an initiate of the mysteries who
aspires unto the Hidden Knowledge. (See Plate 2.)
The Tarot Key of The Universe and the 32nd Path of the Sepher Yetzirah are
fully described in the Theoricus Ritual. They are also explained in the next section
entitled "Ritual Work for the Theoricus."¢
This concludes the Knowledge Lecture. Examinations on the ritual as well as the
material covered in this section are given at the end of this chapter.
ADDITIONAL SIDE LECTURE 73
The Moon and the Tree of Life
As confusion is found to exist with regard to the Right and Left Pillars of the
Sephiroth on the Tree of Life in relation to the right and left sides of a man, and as
to the phases of the Moon-you must note:
That in every diagram and picture, the right hand side of the observer is
next the Pillar of Mercy-Chokmah, Chesed, and Netzach; while the Pillar of
Severity is on the observer's left hand. Yet when you apply the Tree of Life to
yourself, your right side, arm, and leg represent the side of Strength and Severity,
Binah, Geburah and Hod, and your left side refers to the Pillar of Mercy. So that
when you look at a diagram, you are looking, as it were, at a man facing you, that
your right side faces his left. His Merciful side forms the right hand Pillar in front
of you, so that it is as if you looked at yourself in a mirror.
Just as the man looks at you, so does the Moon look at you and so you say
that the Moon in her increase is on the side of Mercy, the right hand pillar of the
Sephiroth; and in her decrease, the crescent is on the left hand Pillar of Severity.
A Diagram, then, is a picture of a Man or the Moon facing you. The temple
pillars are similar:
Black Pillar
White Pillar
Black Pillar
White Pillar
Severity
Mercy
Boaz
Jachin
Left
Right
Stolistes
Dadouchos
North
South
That is, the white Mercy or Jachin Pillar is on your right hand as you
approach the Altar from the West and from the Hiereus. (See Chronicles II. iii, 17.)
73 From Regardie's The Golden Dawn.