The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING Hiereus: “The Sphinx of Egypt spake and said: ‘I am the synthesis of the Elemental Forces: I am also the symbol of man: I am Life: and I am Death: I am the Child of the Night of Time.’” Hierophant : «The priest with the mask of Osiris spake and said: ‘Thou canst nN not pass the gate of the Eastern Heaven : except thou canst tell me my name.’” Tablet Kerux, for Zelator: “Thou art Nu: oes P The Goddess of the Firmament of Air, Thou love art Harmakhis, Lord of the Eastern Sun.” das Martecty Hierophant : “ In what sign and symbol CH for, dost thou come ?” Kervx,for Zelator: “Inthe letter Aleph, | //\\) gs speasa (/\) with the Banner of Light, and the symbol of equated forces.” oem Wyite. Hierophant (falling back and making with fan the sign of Aquarius, <:, before Zelator): “In the sign of the man, child of Air, art thou purified—pass thou on.” hts| Reaemp Similarly the Zelator passes the Lion, the Eagle, and the Bull. The Hierophant os then explains to the Zelator the symbolism of the cubical cross, as follows : “ The cubical cross is a fitting emblem of the equilibrated {and balanced forces of the Elements. It is composed of twenty-two squares externally, which refer to the twenty-two letters placed thereon. Twenty and two are the letters of the Eternal Voice in the vault of Heaven; in the depths of the Earth ; in the abyss of the Waters, and in the all-presence of Fire: Heaven cannot speak their fulness, Earth cannot utter it. Yet hath the Creator bound them in all things. He hath mingled them through Water: He hath whirled them aloft in Fire: He hath sealed them in the Air of Heaven: He hath distributed them through the Planets: He hath assigned unto them the twelve constellations of the Zodiac.” He then explains that to the Thirty-second Path of the Sepher Yetzirah is attributed the seven Abodes of Assiah ; to the four Elements, the Kerubim, and the Qliphoth.* D1aGRaM 20. Arrangement of Temple for the 32nd Path in the 2° = of Ritual. will this be seen in the next ritual, which becomes ridiculously complex with Samo- thracian nonentities. The symbols in themselves are not wrong; but it is the “ mixed- biscuit” type of symbol which is so bad, especially where it is not necessary, but chosen so as to “ show off” superficial knowledge. * See 777, cols, civ., cviii., pp. 20 and 23; and Revelations, chap. i. 267