Thoughts on the Cube (part 3)

[randomactsofkarmasc]

 

Levi divides the Tree into three Worlds:  the Mystical (Divine), the Metaphysical (Moral), and the Material (Physical).  These are labeled on the picture below.

 

 

Ring Cosmos condenses to a point (Kether).  Where Ring Cosmos *was* is Ain Soph Aur, the Divine Light that is a reflection of Ain Soph.  In The Doctrine of High Magic, Chapter 8, Levi states that the Astral Light is an expression of the Intellectual Light and the Intellectual Light is an expression of the Divine Light.  These are labelled on the picture below.

 

 

In his Chapter 4 commentary, JMG writes that the Astral Light is the fourth emanation of the life principle.  The Sun is the third emanation, the Mind is the second emanation, and One is the first.  These are labelled on the picture below.

 

 

In his Chapter 6 commentary, JMG provides the hint that Reason, Necessity, and Liberty are the Ternary of the Great Arcanum.  He then says that from these, the Great Magical Agent is created, with a two-fold form of attraction and repulsion.  Levi discussed the Great Magical Agent in terms of four forces (Heat, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism.  These are labelled on the picture below.

 

 

Levi states that "to understand the movements of… the Sun, so as to be able to benefit from its currents and direct them, is to have accomplished the Great Work, and it is to be master of the world."  My interpretation of that statement is the 'movement of the Sun' is the Great Arcanum and the understanding of the Great Arcanum is the result of the Great Work.  Levi also states the Great Work results in the creation of the Stone of the Philosophers (which is sometimes represented by a Cube and sometimes by a hexagram and is sometimes described as a 'unified will').

 

Levi describes the Cube as having the following Tetragrammaton pairs  on opposite sides, each representing one way of looking at the Great Arcanum:

• ShLMH--God
• ADAM--HEVA
• AZOT--INRI

Levi also includes two diagrams that appear to be related to the Cube:

The top and bottom faces of the Cube would align to the Alpha and Omega in Levi's hexagram, which are both along the central axis of the hexagram, indicating equilibrium.  God would have the Alpha position; ShLMH (Solomon) would have the Omega position.  Levi has previously referred to the TARO as AZOT, so AZOT would go on the left side and INRI would go on the right side.

 

For ADAM and HEVA, Levi gives a hint by the spelling he chooses for Eve.  Rather than HVH or Cheth-Vau-Heh, he chose a spelling that ended with the letter Aleph, the first magical virtue, to will.  So I place HEVA on the right and ADAM on the left.  Since AZOT is the receptacle of forms, AZOT would go on the upper left (the Heh) and Adam would go on the lower left (the Yod).  Since INRI is resurrection (which begins and ends with a Yod), INRI would go on the bottom right (since rebirth happens in the Great Sea, a Heh).  HEVA, starting with a Heh and ending with Aleph, would go on the upper right.

 

And which way does the Astral Light circulate?  Both!  One current travels clockwise, the other counterclockwise.

 

So have we finished creating the Philosopher's Stone?  I don't think so…

 

In Spiritual Alchemy, the Alchemist strives to purify his Soul so it can reunite with his Spirit.  The Soul is often represented by the Moon; the Spirit, by the Sun.  What would happen to our Tree if Yesod (the Moon) united with Tiphareth (the Sun), so the human will was unified?  Perhaps the Adept achieves 'sovereign will' (and his mental body) and becomes king of the elementary world, the Kingdom of Malkuth?  His physical body would be shed, and his Malkuth would be as the Kether of the next World. 

 

As the Serpent said,

 

You shall never die,

[because those who have learned the Great Secret are not subject to Fate and are freed of the Wheel of Destiny]

but you will

[achieve sovereign will and become King?  Or perhaps it should be

But you Will, as Aleph the Magician,

become as gods

[by Divining… reading the Astral by prophecy and acting upon the Astral by miracles]

knowing good and evil

[both currents of the Astral, the volatile and the fixed].

 

 

Thank you for reading about my attempt to Solve and Coagula a meaning of the Cube.  I think there is more understanding to unpack, but first I am going to revisit My Metaphor and update it with my new understandings.  And then perhaps I'll revisit Herakles and see if he has more I am ready to learn.  And then I'll come back to the Cube, unless I am sent on another Quest first.  :-)

Comments

[betwixttheworlds]

I never once thought of a hexagram as a cube, but you are absolutely right on this. I see it clearly now. What it means? I don't know! We can circulate the energy in our body following the rules of a pentagram, but a hexagram doesn't relate to the body. Hmmmm.

Jon

[randomactsofkarmasc]

Even more fun, if you think of looking 'down' at the hexagram, and then imagine Kether is a point centered 'below' the hexagram and that Tiphareth is a point centered 'above' the hexagram, you can connect the dots to make a Merkabah!

I don't know what it means yet, either. So I'll hmmmmm right along with you!

[betwixttheworlds]

Hi Random,

I've moved into my new place so I have more time to investigate the mysterious cube with you. One thing I've noticed on the BOTA Emperor card is that three sides of the cube can be seen. The other three are hidden.

This is exactly like Levi's hexagram of white and black. Hmmm.

[randomactsofkarmasc]

Oh, that is a very cool observation.

Perhaps we can only see the three sides because we do not have a unified will (yet)? Maybe we see each side of the polarity that aligns to the side of the polarity we tend toward? (That is not a well-written sentence, but it is Monday. I'll ponder how to say that better.)

And I will have to get out a dice to see is it possible to ever see more than three side of a cube...

Thank you for sharing your hmmm.