The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING hoodwink is slipped up to give a glimpse of the Light as dimly seen through Darkness yet heralding a Glory which is in the Beyond. The Hierophant, then slowly lowering his sceptre, says: “Child of Earth! remember that Unbalanced Force is evil. Unbalanced Mercy is but weakness: Unbalanced Severity is but oppression. Thou hast known me; pass thou on unto the Cubical Altar of the Universe.” Thus formulating the Force of the Hidden Central Pillar. The Hierophant then leaveth his throne and passeth between the pillars, halting at either the station of Har- pocrates, the place of the Evil Triad, or at the East of the Altar. The Hiereus standeth on the left of the Candidate, and the Hegemon on hisright. Thus again completing the formulation of the Triad of the Three Supernals. The Hierophant and Hiereus may hold their banners; anyhow it is done astrally ; and the Higher Self of the Candidate will be formulated once more in the Invisible station of Harpocrates. The Hierophant then says: “ Let the Candidate kneel, while I invoke the LORD OF THE UNIVERSE!” After the prayer has been solemnly repeated, the Hierophant says: “Let the Can- didate rise,” * and then: “Child of Earth! long hast thou dwelt in Darkness! Quit the Night, and seek the day.” Then only at the words: “Let the Candidate rise” is the hoodwink definitely removed. The Hierophant, Hiereus, and Hegemon join their sceptres and sword above the Candidate’s head, thus formulating the Supernal Triad, and assert that they, receive him into the Order of the Golden Dawn, in the words : “Frater X Y Z, we receive thee into the Order of the Golden Dawn !” They then recite the mystic words, “ KHABS AM PEKHT,.” as sealing the current of the Flaming Light. But the Higher Soul remaineth in the Invisible Station of Harpocrates, and to the Spirit Vision, at this point, there should be a gleaming white Triangle formulated above the forehead of the Candidate and touching it, the symbol of the white Triangle of the Three Supernals. The Hierophant now calleth forward the Kerux, and turning towards the Candidate says to him: “Tn all your wanderings through darkness, the lamp of the Kerux went before you though you saw it not! It is the symbol of the Hidden Light of Occult Science.” It here representeth to him a vague formulation of his ideal, which he can neither grasp nor analyse. Yet this Light is not the symbol of his own Higher Self, but rather a ray from the Gods to lead him there. * Meaning also: “ Let the Light arise in the Candidate,” Il R 257