Does the work ahead cause you to feel disheartened? Is that because you believe that you do not have to do anything, you can get to heaven by doing nothing more that believing and having faith? But believe what? Having faith in what? The evidence of the last 2,000 years proves that for most people the old theology has failed. However if you still need to have faith and believe in something, at least believe in Knowledge, because Christ promised that it will set us free. The point that we make is that Knowledge has to be worked for. Let us proceed with the inner journey.

Sphere 4 - Doxa (Doxa) Glory

Doxa is used in 18 different ways in the New Testament. But do we really understand the concept of glory? In the Gnostic scripture Zostrianos, we are told that the "…glories are perfect concepts, appearing unto powers…they are patterns of salvation…". This fits in with the Greek Tree of Life because Glory is opposite Power and they are perfect concepts directly connected by a path. But more importantly, it is now clear that Glory is the pattern of salvation. This is obvious from the Tree because Glory is directly connected to First Principle that as we have already seen in Part 2 of this series, contains the pattern of order. Thus Glory fully opens up the pattern of salvation that exists as latent potential in First Principle. Moreover, Christ will come with Power and Glory (Luke 21:27). You can now see that we are taking the concepts of the old theology and examining them in a new way.

It is important to note that we are not advocating the abandonment of the Christian belief system. We are taking it as the starting point for the inner journey. Here is the difference - the Church stops at the very point where we begin. Let us continue.

The first letter D (delta) is attributed to Gemini and is part of the combined journey of men and women. It connects Foundation and Greatness on the Tree. The second letter o (omicron) is attributed to Mars, the fifth chakra and the fifth step of the masculine journey. Appropriately, it is the masculine power of Mars that connects Power and Glory. The description of the experience of this path is in the Apocalypse of John 3:1-6 as the Letter to Sardis. The third letter x (xi) is attributed to Water and is the second step in the feminine journey. It connects Goodness to First Principle. In the modern interpretation of Pythagoras, this has to do with feelings and emotions in a spiritual sense. This is the path of pain, but more on that later. The fourth letter a (alfa) is attributed to the Moon, the first chakra and the first step in the masculine journey. It connects Kingdom with Foundation. The description of the experience is in the Apocalypse of John 2:1-7, as the Letter to Ephesos.

Thus the formula for experiencing Glory is the combination of Gemini, Mars, Water and the Moon.

Sphere 5 - DunamiV (Dynamis) Power

Dynamis is used in 21 different ways in the New Testament. Only some of them refer to "power" in the sense used here. Once more we turn to a gnostic scripture for assistance. In the First Thought in Three Forms we are told that First Thought (another name for First Principle) comes down into the world for the salvation of the stolen power of Sofia. Let us pause here. We have already seen that Glory is the pattern of salvation made manifest and now it is implied that by the Fall the Power of salvation has been stolen and must be recovered. The coming down of First Thought (or First Principle) for the salvation of the stolen Power makes a lot of sense and is part of the answer to the question "why are we not saved?" Bearing in mind that this is all deeply symbolic, it means that within our individual spiritual makeup, we have lost something that needs to be redeemed.

This is a redemption that involves the invocation of the First Principle within us but that requires us to have completed the inner journey around the Greek Tree of Life and have created Gnosis. If that sounds paradoxical, it is because it is paradoxical. We are dealing with mysteries that are inherently right brain concepts. Mysteries require revelation, inspiration, imagination and vision. We shall not attain these states of being through left brain logic. This needs Knowledge, as well as faith and belief.

The first letter D (delta) is attributed to Gemini and is part of the combined journey of male and female. It connects Foundation and Greatness on the Tree. The second letter u (ipsilon) is attributed to Jupiter, the sixth chakra and the sixth step in the masculine journey. It connects Glory and Wisdom. The description of the experience is in the Apocalypse of John 3:7-13, as the Letter to Philadelphia. The third letter n (ni) is attributed to Scorpio and is part of the combined journey. Note once more that sexuality is being hinted at as part of Power. The fourth letter a (alfa) is attributed to the Moon, the first chakra and the first step in the masculine journey. It connects Kingdom with Foundation. The experience is found in the Apocalypse 2:1-7, as the Letter to Ephesos. The fifth letter m (mi) is attributed to Libra as part of the combined masculine and feminine journey. It connects Goodness and Power. The sixth letter i (iota) is attributed to the Sun, the fourth chakra and the fourth masculine step. It connects Greatness and Power. It is described in the Apocalypse of John 2:18-29, as the Letter to Thyatira. The seventh letter V sigma in its final form is attributed to Aquarius and is part of the combined journey.

The formula for comprehending Power is Gemini, Jupiter, Scorpio, Moon, Libra, Sun and Aquarius.

Let us pause and consider that Dynamis has been lost and it will take the direct intervention of First Principle to recover the lost Power of salvation. The last letter of Dynamis is the 7^th and it connects Power and First Principle via Aquarius, a sign of the zodiac usually attributed to very high intellect. The number 7 is significant for the number of steps in the masculine journey and the chakras. All of this tells us that the male journey must be completed before the path of Aquarius can be properly activated to enable First Principle to recover the lost Power of salvation. This is paradoxical because it implies that salvation can be achieved without completing all three journeys. The problem is that First Principle cannot be activated unless Knowledge is created. That cannot occur until all 3 journeys are complete. Confused? Good, let us proceed.

Sphere 6 - Agaqwsunh (Agathosine) Goodness

Agathosine is used in two ways in the New Testament, both implying goodness. However goodness is not the Good. Here we must turn to Plotinos for assistance. From his teachings recorded in the Enneads, we find that "goodness" is an emanated quality of the Good which itself is identified with the Monad. We have already seen that the First Principle is identical with the Monad, so what does all this mean? Look at the Greek Tree of Life and you will see that the sphere directly below First Principle (Monad), is Goodness. That is the quality of goodness is an emanation of the concept of the Good. If this is not clear, try reading the Enneads or the gnostic scripture The Three Tablets of Seth that states "…by Goodness you have bestowed Power upon Understanding". Note that on the Tree, Goodness is connected with Power that in turn is connected with Understanding. Who is the "you" who does the bestowing? The Good, that is, First Principle. We therefore have a circuit of spiritual influence as follows:

First Principle Þ Goodness Þ Power Þ Understanding Þ First Principle

The circuit is complete because Understanding connects with First principle. The whole Tree is important, but this circuit is significant, because it is approached from below, by the first step of the feminine journey. There are a few surprises in store for us in that journey, but more of that later.

The first letter A (alfa) is the first masculine step and has been described before. The second letter g (gamma) is attributed to Taurus and is part of the combined journey. It connects Kingdom to Victory. The third letter is also a (alfa). The first step is being emphasised again. The fourth letter q (theta) is attributed to Earth and is the first feminine step. It takes us from Greatness to Goodness and the circuit we have seen above. This implies special power to the feminine. Remember that it is associated with the aetheric body and that in turn is the connection between the physical body and the soul as vehicles of consciousness. Out of interest, observe that the path from Goodness to First Principle is the second feminine step and is also part of the circuit. Do you find this confusing? Good. Maybe you will let your intuition guide you.

The fifth letter w (omega) is the seventh masculine step and is attributed to Saturn and the seventh chakra. It connects Wisdom and First Principle. The experience is described in The Apocalypse 3:14-22, as the Letter to Laodicea. The sixth letter s (sigma) is attributed to Aquarius, connects Power to First Principle and is part of the combined journey. The seventh letter u (ipsilon) is the sixth masculine step attributed to Jupiter and the sixth chakra. The experience is described in the Apocalypse 3:7-13 as the Letter to Philadelphia. It connects Glory to Wisdom. The eighth letter n (ni) is attributed to Scorpio on the combined journey and connects Goodness with Glory. Note the subtle sexual connotation yet again. The ninth letter h (eta) is the third masculine step, attributed to Venus and the third chakra. Since Venus is the personification of sexual desire, our attention is again being attracted. It connects Greatness with Victory and the experience is in the Apocalypse 2:8-17, as the Letter to Pergamos.

The formula for experiencing Goodness is Moon, Taurus, Moon, Earth, Saturn, Aquarius, Scorpio and Venus.

*******

Let us pause for a time and review what we have done and where we are. Is all of this confusing, infuriating and boring? Is it a waste of time following all these letters and paths on the Greek Tree of Life? Can you see any relevance at all in any of this for your life here and now? Is all of this nonsense? You are being tested.