VIII

JUSTICE---LA JUSTICE

You must never forget that the priest is a king, and the wise man is a judge. There are in this world both the weak and the strong, the poor and the rich, there are both the ignorant and the learned. The former are ever the servitors of the latter; but if the former do their works worthily they thereby become worthy of admission to the concourse of masters, while the useless servants are to be cast away. It is well, therefore, to teach men how to serve well, so that they may come forward into a place of power. All things upon this world, and all below the surface belong to the domain of man.

Created beings roar, groan, hiss, coo, and weave around man as a centre; man alone speaks to his fellows and to God; and the voice of God upon earth is spoken through man. The science of life is written in the Book of Nature, but man alone can read it. The wise and powerful translate the words of this book into creeds and symbols for the instruction of the feeble and ignorant. When you speak to such as are like children, speak as to children. Do not sell the secrets of wisdom, and do not divulge them to pander to curiosity.

A man should form his opinions in freedom, and thus he may resemble the ideal of divinity. Cast not the pearls of mystic science before those of low and evil mind who have no knowledge, those whom the Testament calls swine. To such persons, whether you speak the truth, or veil the truth, there is but misunderstanding; deception haunts them, they estimate all things by a faulty conscience. You may dazzle them by the glancing of the sword, but do not let them approach the wand or clavicule. If you wish to have no need to fear an evil person, make him fear you. Remember the conduct of Moses before Pharaoh. Do not put faith in the benevolence of a priest of idols, nor in the sincerity of a pretender to wisdom, for these men will hate you as a destroyer of their livelihood and domination. Keep a steady watch against being placed in danger by accepting the caresses of a woman; remember how Samson was decoyed by Delilah. Do not be familiar with any woman when alone with her, or in the dark; remember Orpheus and Eurydice. Make yourself beloved of women, that they be made happier; but never love any woman so much that you cannot be happy without her. As to the beings of the elements, the love which they have for a Magus immortalises them, whether Sylphs, Gnomes, Undines, or fiery Salamandrines, but the love of such beings by a Magus is insensate and may destroy him. Be ever intelligent and just to such elemental beings, and you will be rewarded with happiness because of your good actions.

Notes

The Eighth Tarot Trump, named Justice, represents a seated female figure robed and crowned, holding a sword in the right hand and a pair of scales in the left hand. Levi gives as its meaning the equilibrium of attraction and repulsion. P. Christian gives similar meanings, adding in the Physical World it refers to Human Justice, which is always fallible and tinctured with personal motives or personal emotions.

IX

THE HERMIT---L'ERMITE

When the adept has provided himself with the Magical Sword and Wand, he yet needs a Magical Lamp whose beams will chase away all the phantoms of darkness. (The Lamp is figured at p. 103 of the Rituel of Eliphaz Levi, but does not quite correspond to the description here given.) Four metals should enter into its composition: gold, silver, brass, iron. The foot of iron, the knot of brass, the reservoir of silver, and a golden triangle above this, and erect in the middle; from each side springs an arm composed of three tubes of gold, silver, and brass, twisted together; there are nine wick burners, three on each side arm, and three above the triangle over the reservoir; upon the iron foot is engraved an Hermetic triangle, with the symbols of Mercury above, Sol and Luna below; around the rim of the semiglobular base is fixed a brazen serpent; and above the globular part, between it and the brazen knot, there should be an androgyne figure with male and female heads, whose arms are stretched over the globe. Engrave diverse forms on the brass knot; and upon the silver cup must be placed the Hexagram with the letters of the Tetragrammaton in its centre. Upon the golden triangle above engrave a God surrounded by rays, as a symbol of the fecundity of the infinite and eternal. On each side of the reservoir for oil, fix a ring, and hang chains to these rings----one of silver, one of iron; by these chains the lamp may be suspended, or carried by the magician. The wicks for the burners should be of new linen threads, but dyed, the three on the right blue, the three on the left red, and the three middle wicks gold coloured.

The Lamp should be lit from a consecrated fire, but the greatest effect arises when the Lamp burns without wicks and without oil; lighted only by the Lux of the Universal Fluidic Agent, or by one of the material elementals of Water.

The light of this Magical Lamp should work marvels, it should illuminate the consciences of men and women so that you may read them, and should enable you to recognise each type of spiritual being. The magician should not attempt any serious ceremonial until he has grasped the Wand, and illumined the Lamp; just as in common life, if you want to walk safely in the dark, you must carry a candle and try the ground before you with a staff.

Notes

The Tarot Trump numbered 9 is named the Hermit. It represents an aged man enveloped in a mantle leaning on a staff, and carrying a lantern. The alloted meanings are wisdom, goodness, and morality, according to Eliphaz Levi in his Rituel.

P. Christian writes: "In the Divine World the meaning is absolute wisdom; in the Intellectual World, prudence; and in the Physical World, circumspection, the proper guide of human actions."

The Magical Lamp is figured by Levi in his Rituel at p. 103.

X

THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE---LA ROUE DE

FORTUNE

The Wheel of Ezekiel is the type on which all the Pantacles of the Higher Magic are designed.

When the adept is in the blessed possession of a full knowledge of the powers of the Seal of Solomon, and of the virtues of the Wheel of Ezekiel, which is indeed correspondent, in its entire symbolism, with that of Pythagoras, he has sufficient experience to design talismans and pantacles for any special magical purpose.

The Wheel of Ezekiel contains the solution of the problem of the quadrature of the circle, and demonstrates the correspondences between words and figures, letters and emblems; it exhibits the tetragram of characters analogous to that of the elements and elemental forms. It is a glyph of perpetual motion. The triple ternary is shown; the central point is the first Unity; three circles are added, each with four attributions, and the dodekad is thus seen. The state of universal equilibrium is suggested by the counterpoised emblems, and the pairs of symbols. The flying Eagle balances the man; the roaring Lion counterpoises the laborious Bull.

Kether, the Crown; Tiphereth, Beauty; and Yesod, Foundation, form a central axis; while Wisdom, Chokmah, equilibrates with Understanding, Binah; and the Severity of Justice, Geburah, makes a counterpoise with the Mercy of Justice, Chesed; similar conceptions are the contests between Eros and Anteros, between Jacob and the Angel, Samael and Anael, Mars and Venus. The Philosophic Cross and the Greek monogram of Christos are comparable also to this magical wheel.

In order that a consecrated talisman shall give real help to you, it must be well understood, and the correspondences realised; for a pantacle is an ideal materialised, made visible, made portable, and may contain as much knowledge as a book. It is an image of some part of God and His works, it is as a card of the eternal kingdom.

Consider well the aim to be accomplished, and the powers to be invoked; select the symbols, emblems, and letters with the greatest care, seeking Chokmah and Binah from that spark of the Divine which overshadows you, and then trace, mark, or engrave your chosen design upon a plate of gold, silver, or of Corinth brass, or cut it on precious stones, or draw it upon virgin parchment. When the work has been skillfully and accurately finished, then submit it to consecration with prayers and invocations of the Four and of the Seven, using suitable perfumes in the incense; after which wrap up the talisman in clean silk and place it in a cedar casket, and it will be effectual to carry it always about with you.

Notes

The Tarot Trump marked 10 is named the Wheel of Fortune; the card shows a wheel supported on two upright beams. Hermanubis stands on one side, and Typhon on the other; above is the Sphynx holding a sword in its Lion's jaws. Eliphaz Levi alleges that Etteilla, who made a superficial study of the Tarot, is answerable for a more modern form of this card, in which the beings around the wheel are a man, a mouse, and a monkey.

The meanings of this Trump are said to be paternity, virile force, manifestation, and principle. P. Christian remarks that on the Physical plane the card points out the varying changes of the so-called fate or fortune.

This key is figured by Levi in his Clef des grands mysteres, page 117.