The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE EQUINOX together with the top and underside, consist of ten squares, thus symbolising the Ten Sephiroth.” . . . “The altar of Incense was overlaid with gold, to represent essential purity, but the altar before you is black to typify the terrestrial earth. Learn then to separate the pure from the impure, the refined and spiritual gold of the Alchymist from the Black Dragon of Putrefaction in Evil.” . . . ‘I now congratulate you on having attained to the 1°= 10° grade of Zelator, and in recognition thereof I confer on you the mystic title of PERECLINOS DE FAUSTIS, which signifies that you are still far from the goal which has been reached by the complete Initiates.” Shortly after this the Closing takes place, and the prayer of the spirits of the Earth is rehearsed, and the licence to depart pronounced, and in the name of ADONAI HA ARETZ, the Hierophant declares the Temple closed. By the end of January 1899, P. was sufficiently advanced to be admitted to the grade of Theoricus. It was about this time also that he met Mr. D., a certain brother of the G.*.D.-*. known as Fra. I. A. This meeting, as we Shall eventually see, ranks only second in importance to his meeting with Fra. V. N. RITUAL OF THE 2° = 9° GRADE OF THEORICUS This grade is particularly attributed to the element of Air; it refers to the Moon, and is attached to the Thirty-second Path of Tau, which alludes to the Universe as composed of the four elements, to the Kerubim, the Qliphoth, the Astral Plane, and the reflection of the Sphere of Saturn. After this has been explained, the Advancement of the Zelator takes place, after which the Ritual of the Thirty-second Path is celebrated. Hierophant, to Zelator: ‘Facing you are the Portals of the thirty-second, thirty- first, and twenty-ninth Paths leading from the grade of Zelator to the three other grades which are beyond. The only path now open to you, however, is the thirty-second, which leads to the 2°=9° grade of Theoricus, and which you must traverse before arriving at that degree. Take in your right hand the Cubical Cross, and in your left hand the Banner of Light, and follow your guide Anubis* the Guardian: who leads you from the Material to the Spiritual.” Kerux: “Anubis the Guardian spake unto the Aspirant, saying: ‘Let us enter into the Presence of the Lords of Truth.’ Arise and follow me.” * It will be noticed that from here this ritual becomes unnecessarily complicated with Egyptian deities—in fact, its mysteries become rather “forced.” Still more so 266