Our society has a current concern
for gender equality and non-specific gender roles. The problem
becomes clear when we examine the inner journey and realise that
it has gender-specific experiences, all of which must be dealt
with. This is not a popular point of view.
Step 2 - Mercury
The second masculine step is the
letter e (epsilon) attributed
to Mercury and connecting Foundation to Victory. This is the second
chakra according to the Greek scheme. More correctly, it is the
second chakra to be activated. The Greek name for Mercury is Hermes.
This immediately alerts us to the hermetic writings because at
the time of Christ, they were the intellectual foundation for
the gnostic interpretation of Christianity and are now the foundation
for the western esoteric tradition. Mercury is attributed to high
intellect and hence on the Tree of Life, this path connects appropriately,
Foundation with Victory; but victory over what? Once more let
us turn to the Apocalypse at 2:8-11 in the Letter to Smyrna:
1 To Smyrna
2 speaks the first and the last
3 I know your works
4 and the blasphemy
5 fear not
6 hear what the spirit says
7 he that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
Our "works" are the
foundation of our spiritual life and they are truly a blasphemy
if we do not live to the highest standard. Have you practised
the 12 disciplines lately? But if we "overcome", that
is if we have victory, we shall not be hurt by the second death.
Victory over whom, and what is the second death? We must overcome
precisely this path. As men we must overcome our intellect because
it is a limitation and barrier. It prevents vision, inspiration
and imagination. The intellect is a foundation upon which these
other faculties are built. What is the price of failure? The second
death.
Our society avoids this issue
because it has no answer to it. We are told that we are all saved
from death and have eternal life by doing nothing more than simply
believing and having faith. What then is Christ saying to the
church at Smyrna? What is the second death? If it is true extinction,
then victory over it is obviously important but the old theology
tells us nothing about how to "overcome" it. A deep
understanding of the Tree of Life tells us that we can overcome
provided we conduct our lives with disciplined action. We must
have every human experience and we must go on all the inner journeys.
We have the Foundation, so let us go to Victory.
Step 3 – Venus
The third masculine step connects
Victory to Greatness. It is attributed to h
(eta) and Venus. The key to Victory is the proper balancing of
the intellect of Mercury with the desire nature and sexuality
of Venus. Truly this leads to Greatness because our desire is
the powerhouse that energises our intellect, while the intellect
directs our desire. Note carefully that desire without intellect
is out of control, while intellect without desire is sterile.
This is the third chakra to be activated on this journey. The
experience is described in the Apocalypse 2:12-17 as the Letter
to Pergamos:
1 To Pergamos
2 speaks he with the two edged sword
3 you have kept my faith
4 but I have a few things against you
5 repent
6 hear what the spirit says
7 he that overcomes shall eat hidden manna and receive a white
stone and a new name.
Christ has a two edged sword and
even though we have kept the faith that the Church has taught
us, he still has a few things against us. This does not sound
like the meek and mild Jesus of the old theology. He demands yet
another repentance, yet another fundamental change in our nature.
Once is obviously not enough. But this transformation leads to
Greatness on the Tree of Life because we shall eat hidden manna,
receive a white stone and a new name. All of this deserves detailed
explanation and the writer of these articles has published this
elsewhere. At present let us note that a new name is the external
evidence of an inner transformation.
It is now clear that having faith
is simply not enough. We must transform ourselves and we must
do it repeatedly. But what else would we expect on the inner journey?
Observe however that this constant need for change is not required
on the feminine journey. The female path is a smooth flow. It
has an internal continuity and consistency. One stage flows into
the next, almost effortlessly. By contrast, the male journey requires
frequent upheaval. Do you still think that men have it easy?
Step 4 – Sun
The fourth masculine step connects
Greatness with Power and is attributed to i
(iota) and the Sun. It is the fourth chakra to be activated and
interestingly, coincides with the Hindu and Buddhist systems,
in that their fourth chakra is attributed to the Sun. The point
is that the Greek system is to be understood not as indicating
the position of a chakra, but rather as the order of activation
of that chakra. The distinction is subtle but important. For a
description of the experience we go to the Apocalypse 2:18-29,
as the Letter to Thyatira:
1 To Thyatira
2 speaks he with eyes like flame
3 I know your charity, faith and patience
4 but you allow Jezebel to seduce my servants
5 I will kill her children
6 to he that overcomes I will give authority and the morning star.
7 hear what the spirit says
Christ has eyes like flame and
he will kill children. Again, not very meek sounding. Even charity,
faith and patience on our part are not enough to please Him. But
if we overcome, we shall receive power in the form of authority.
Indeed by a further transformation we shall achieve the Power
that comes from Greatness. The Tree at least, operates with a
logical consistency. It is we on the masculine journey who have
to constantly overcome our inner nature and continuously transform
it.
Jezebel is the personification
of everything about our society that seduces us into a "feel
good" life style. The children to be killed are our own desires,
thoughts and actions that prevent our personal transformation.
Does this sound ruthless? Yes it is. Is this what you expected?
No it isn’t, but you stand to gain the morning star. It is the
sign that heralds the rising of the Sun. It is a reference to
the correct activation of this chakra. Is that desirable? If you
don’t do it, you cannot proceed.
One final point. The numerical
value of i (iota) is 10, the number
of spheres on the Tree of Life. There is something about this
particular transformation that encapsulates the entire Tree. All
steps on the masculine journey are important but this one is vital.
Hence the emphasis upon overcoming the products of the "feel
good" society.
Are you feeling tired and weary,
getting discouraged and wondering whether any of this is worth
the effort? That’s good because it gets worse.
*******
Just a reminder; in each Letter
to each church we are told to "hear what the spirit says".
The numerical value of the first and last letters/vowels of the
Greek alphabet A W
(alfa + omega) is 1 + 800 = 801, which is the numerical value
of Peristera
, the Greek word for "dove". The dove is the symbol
of the Holy Spirit. In our understanding of the Tree of Life,
small details like this are important.
