Читать книгу The Ritual of the Sanctum Regnum - Eliphas Levi - Страница 11

This is the high and incommunicable Tetragram traced in a Kabalistic and Hermetic design. All initiates, even of the first grade, will at once understand its symbolism.

This emblem is the monogram of the Universal Gnosis; it is formed of Greek and Latin letters; it expresses by symbols the secrets of the Wheel of Ezekiel, and the Book of St. John the Evangelist; it includes the sign of the Labarum of Constantine.

This emblem naturally shows the word ROTA; but viewed in the light of the Kalabah, the word TAROT.

These Characters, with the Philosophic Cross, include all science in esse, and those who are initiates of the Grand Arcanum need no further symbols or emblems; nor do those adepts who know the true but concealed meanings and powers of the words JAKIN and BOAZ, which are related to the two Pillars at the Porch of the Temple, one of which was of white marble, and the other of black, while both were decorated with Brazen ornaments. By these Characters the spirits of evil nature are bound and held in control; by these also, if the operator be just and pure, he makes himself known to angels and may incline them to his aims. For indeed nothing can resist in magical arts the combined powers of the Pentagram, Hexagram, and Tetragram divine.

All other signs, seals, and symbols are but arbitrary, and the keys of their meaning may be found in the Steganographia, or the Polygraphia of the Abbot Trithemius of Spanheim, or else in the magical treatises of Peter of Abano, of Paracelsus, of Arbatel, or of Cornelius Agrippa.

Notes.

The Tarot Trump numbered 5, named the Pope, Hierophant, or Jupiter, represents a crowned ruler bearing a tripled cross wand in his left hand : he is seated between two pillars. The meanings assigned by El. Levi are—religion, philosophy, symbolism, law, instruction, and demonstration. The right hand of the Pope gives the sign of occult wisdom, and not the usual papal benediction.

P. Christian decides that this card shows in the Divine World, Universal Law; in the Intellectual World, Religion; and in the Physical World, such inspiration as is communicated by the Astral fluidic force.