cosmology
Magical Equilibrium
The balance of two contrary forces as the structural law of cosmos and operation — Lévi's equilibrium, expressed in Kabbalah by the senary: the will of God in its first cause, liberty in man, mathematical equilibrium in matter; the twofold vibration required to direct the Astral Light safely.
71 passages · 5 traditions
western_esoteric51
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter XI (part 3)
“It is this Law of Compensation to which the Kybalion refers when it says: "The measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates." The Law of Compensation is that the swing in one direction determ…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter XI (part 4)
“The millionaire may have the inclination toward feasting, and the wealth wherewith to secure all the dainties and luxuries of the table, while he lacks the appetite to enjoy the same; he envies the appetite and digestion of the laborer who…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 8. The Risks Incidental To Ceremonial Magic-a
“If the problem of psychic self-defence is to be adequately dealt with, we must have an understanding of a subject upon which very little has been written - the nature of the forces of intelligent and organised evil.
The great faiths of the…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 8. The Risks Incidental To Ceremonial Magic-b
“We now come to the consideration of Positive Evil.
This again has a “negative’s and “positive’s aspect.
Its “negative’s aspect is pure chaos, unformed substance and unco-ordinated force.
It has been aptly called the Cosmic Abortion.
To…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 9. Distinction Between Objective Psychic Attack And Subjective Psychic Disturbance-a
“PSYCHISM, however genuine, is a fruitful cause of self-delusion.
A psychic is invariably highly sensitive and suggestible.
This is the basis of his gifts.
Psychism not being a normal development, among Europeans at any rate, the psychic…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 11. The Psychic Element In Mental Disturbance-d
“The older faiths knew this, but popular Christianity, which has no roots in tradition, has forgotten it.
Protestant Christianity threw away its occult aspect at the Reformation.
All the pagan pantheons have gross aspects of divinities as…”
Psychic Self-Defence (Dion Fortune) | 18. Methods Of Defence II-a
“THERE are two types of practical psychic work which may be used separately or in combination, the latter method, in my opinion, giving by far the best results, though the exponents of each are apt to decry the other.
The method which we wi…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Isis, the Virgin of the World-h
“The girdle is joined together in front by four golden plates (the elements), placed in the form of a square.
This signified that Isis, or Nature, the first matter (alchemical terminology), was the essence- of the four elements (life, light…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Pythagorean Mathematics-j
“Wynn Westcott says of the duad: "it was called 'Audacity,' from its being the earliest number to separate itself from the Divine One; from the 'Adytum of God-nourished Silence,' as the Chaldean oracles say." As the monad is the father, so t…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Pythagorean Mathematics-k
“The tetrad--4--was esteemed by the Pythagoreans as the primogenial number, the root of all things, the fountain of Nature and the most perfect number.
All tetrads are intellectual; they have an emergent order and encircle the world as the…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Pythagorean Mathematics-l
“Therefore, they chose the five-pointed star, or pentagram, as the symbol of vitality, health, and interpenetration.
It was customary for the philosophers to conceal the element of earth under the symbol of a dragon, and many of the heroes…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Flowers, Plants, Fruits, and Trees-e
“Man's veneration for trees as symbols of the abstract qualities of wisdom and integrity also led him to designate as trees those individuals who possessed these divine qualities to an apparently superhuman degree.
Highly illumined philosop…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Stones, Metals and Gems-f
“Standing before the gate of King Solomon's Temple, these columns had the same symbolic import as the obelisks before the sanctuaries of Egypt.
When interpreted Qabbalistically, the names of the two pillars mean "In strength shall My House…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | The Qabbalah, the Secret Doctrine of Israel-f
“Chapter Two 1.
There are twenty-two basic (sounds and) letters.
Three are the first elements (water, air, fire), fundamentals, or mothers; seven are double letters; and twelve are simple letters.
The three fundamental letters אמשhave as…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | The Qabbalah, the Secret Doctrine of Israel-g
“Heaven was created from the elementary fire (or ether) ש, the earth, comprising sea and land, from the elementary water, מ, and the atmospheric air from the elementary air, or spirit, א, which establishes the balance among them.
Thus were…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Fundamentals of Qabbalistic Cosmogony-i
“By the man of Ezekiel's vision is symbolized the World of Atziluth ; by the throne, the World of Briah ; by the firmament, the World of Yetzirah ; and by the living creatures the World of Assiah .
These spheres are the wheels within wheels…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | The Tree of the Sephiroth-f
“This is located where the horizontal line connecting Chochmah and Binah crosses the vertical line joining Kether and Tiphereth.
While Daath is not mentioned by the first Qabbalists, it is a highly important element and its addition to the…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | An Analysis of Tarot Cards-g
“The vehicle of the solar energy being numbered seven reveals the arcane truth that the seven planers are the chariots of the solar power which rides victorious in their midst.
The four columns supporting the canopy represent the four Might…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | An Analysis of Tarot Cards-h
“Above sits the immobile sphinx, carrying the sword of Justice and signifying the perfect equilibrium of Universal Wisdom.
Anubis is shown rising and Typhon descending; but when Typhon reaches the bottom, evil ascends again, and when Anubis…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | An Analysis of Tarot Cards-l
“Thirteen teardrops are falling from the solar face Levi, seeing in the two children Faith and Reason, which must coexist as long as the temporal universe endures, writes: "Human equilibrium requires two feet, the worlds gravitate by means o…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Rosicrucian Doctrines and Tenets-h
“The Rosicrucians were also the instigators of the French Revolution, but in this instance were not wholly successful, owing to the fact that the fanaticism of the revolutionists could not be controlled and the Reign of Terror ensued.
2.
T…”
The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall) | Freemasonic Symbolism-i
“*** According to the ancient Rabbins, Solomon was an initiate of the Mystery schools and the temple which he built was actually a house of initiation containing amass of pagan philosophic and phallic emblems.
The pomegranates, the palm-hea…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter II (part 2)
“The ancients used a dot in the centre of a circle as the symbol of this idea, the representation of the Unity-principle ( the dot ) in the centre of eternity ( the circle , a line without beginning or end).
According to these demonstration…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter VI (part 2)
“FIRST SEPTENARY.--The application of one law to very different terms has led us so far; we must not abandon this system, but persevere and say-- If in one ternary exist an active term = yod , a passive term = he , and a neuter term = vau ,…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter VII (part 2)
“Each element of this septenary thus rules over-- Arcanum 13 (+) Knight of Sceptres, (+) Knight of Swords, (-) Arcanum 16 (-) Knight of Cups, (+) Knight of Pentacles, (-) Arcanum 14 (+) Three of Sceptres, (+) Three of Swords, (-) Arcanum 17…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter VIII (part 1)
“PART II.
SYMBOLISM IN THE TAROT.
APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL KEY TO SYMBOLISM.
CHAPTER VIII.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF SYMBOLISM.
The Symbols--The Primitive Terms--Key of Symbolism--Definition of the Sense of one of the Symbols--The…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter VIII (part 2)
“4--Passage from one series to another.
We can then represent the series in this way-- And what is true for each of the terms of a ternary is also true for the ternary taken as a whole , and this leads us to new considerations.
For the fir…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter VIII (part 3)
“We may therefore say, more explicitly-- The 5th arcanum is: The reflex of yod considered negatively.
But what is yod considered negatively?
To find this out, I look in my left column at the letter yod , I seek in the secondary vertical co…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 14 (part 1)
“THE JUGGLER THE JUGGLER .
1.
א 1st Hebrew letter (Aleph).
ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FIRST CARD OF THE TAROT.
The Aleph hieroglyphically expresses Man himself as a collective unity, the master principle, ruler of the earth.
From th…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 16
“THE EMPRESS. THE EMPRESS. 3. ג 3rd Hebrew letter (Gimel). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE THIRD CARD OF THE TAROT. The hieroglyphic meaning of the letter Gimel is the throat, the hand of man half closed in the act of prehension. Hence it sig…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 18 (part 1)
“THE POPE.
THE POPE.
5.
ה 5th Hebrew letter (He).
ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FIFTH CARD OF THE TAROT.
The hieroglyphic meaning of He is aspiration, breath.
It is by aspiration that life is incessantly maintained and created.
Hence…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 19 (part 1)
“THE LOVERS.
THE LOVERS.
6.
ו The 6th Hebrew letter (Vau).
ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE SIXTH CARD OF THE TAROT.
The hieroglyphic sign for the Vau is the eye, all that relates to light and brilliancy.
The eye establishes the link bet…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 19 (part 2)
“The 4 balances the 5 and the 6.
The 5 ---------- the 4 and the 6.
The 6 ---------- the 4 and the 5.
Its signification proceeds from this:-- In the Divine .
The Equilibrium between Will and Intelligence-- BEAUTY (characteristic of the Ho…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 21
“7. ז 7th Hebrew letter (Zain). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE SEVENTH CARD OF THE TAROT. Hieroglyphically the Zain expresses an arrow, and therefore it suggests the idea of a weapon , of the instrument which man uses to rule and conquer , a…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 22
“JUSTICE. JUSTICE. 8. ח 8th Hebrew letter (Heth). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE EIGHTH CARD OF THE TAROT. Hieroglyphically the Heth expresses a field. From it springs the idea of anything that requires labour, trouble, an effort. Continued…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 23
“THE HERMIT. THE HERMIT. 9. ט 9th Hebrew letter (Teth). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE NINTH CARD OF THE TAROT. Hieroglyphically the Teth represents a roof, and suggests the idea of a place of safety, a protection. All the ideas arising from…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 24
“THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE. THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE. 10. י 10th Hebrew letter (Yod). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TENTH CARD OF THE TAROT. The hieroglyphic meaning of the Yod is the finger of man; the forefinger extended as a sign of command. This…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 26
“THE HANGED MAN. THE HANGED MAN. 12. ל 12th Hebrew letter (Lamed). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TWELFTH CARD OF THE TAROT. Hieroglyphically the Lamed designates the arm, and therefore it is connected with anything that stretches, that rais…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 29
“DEATH. DEATH. 13. מ 13th Hebrew letter (Mem). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE THIRTEENTH CARD OF THE TAROT. The hieroglyphic meaning of the Mem is a woman, the companion of man, it therefore gives rise to ideas of fertility and formation. It…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 30
“TEMPERANCE. TEMPERANCE. 14. נ 14th Hebrew letter (Nun). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FOURTEENTH CARD OF THE TAROT. The hieroglyphic sense of the Nun is the offspring of the female; a son, a fruit of any kind, all things produced. This let…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Page 39
“THE FOOL. THE MATE. 21. סה 21st Hebrew letter (Shin). ORIGIN OF THE SYMBOLISM OF THE UNNUMBERED CARD OF THE TAROT. The Shin expresses the same hieroglyphic meaning as the Zain (7th arcanum) and the Samech (15th): this is an arrow, an object…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XIV (part 3)
“An indeterminable and unnamable principle, of which we are content to assert the existence only-- 2.
This synthetic principle, when analyzed , is found to consist of a Trinity thus constituted-- Neuter ∞ SYNTHETIC PRINCIPLE Negative - NEGA…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XIV (part 6)
“The second, symbolized by Eye, is the origin of feminine Grace, of Authority.
We have seen that Power and Authority find their equilibrium in Love.
Each man, a reflected molecule of humanity made in its image, contains in himself an Adam,…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XIV (part 8)
“This is the God adored by materialist science, and we see that unconsciously its homage is offered to the Divinity itself under its most material form, even whilst it foolishly boasts of Atheism.
DEATH, CORPOREAL LIFE, and the DESTINY whic…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XIV (part 9)
“In order to know, I seek in the vertical column containing the word Mother , and at the bottom I find Man or Humanity.
The Mother is the Active preserving Principle of Humanity .
3.
I add to the word Humanity the word placed in the small…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XVI (part 2)
“Creative Decan .
Yod .
TWO.
2nd Decan or Passive Decan of the Month.
Forming or Preserving Decan .
He .
THREE.
3rd Decan or Equilibrist Decan .
Vau .
FOUR.
Transition between the third Decan of the actual series, to the first Deca…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XVI (part 6)
“With regard to the arcanum 0 (ש), which is unnumbered in the Tarot, although it is eminently passive in itself, it must not be included in the feminine series, for reasons easily discerned in the study of the exact signification of each arc…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XVII (part 3)
“We must also point out some features of the theory, which are necessary for the comprehension of our principal subject; the reader must only remember that this explanation is entirely due to the author of this article, and he must not imput…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XVII (part 4)
“But since, as our sciences prove to us, the Kosmos itself is in a state of evolutive movement, and since according to their teachings this movement clearly inclines towards a progressive synthesis, which spiritualizes the living being by en…”
The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus) | Chapter XVII (part 5)
“It is called DEATH and RESURRECTION, and it represents absolute Inertia, only found in Death; but here Involution stops and Evolution commences, for the equilibrium of the two principles, active and passive, is never prolonged.
This would…”
Transcendental Magic I: The Doctrine (Éliphas Lévi) | 6. Magical Equilibrium-d
“It is a fatal and inevitable operation, directed and made still more calamitous by elementary spirits and suffering souls, whose restless wills seek out sympathies in our weakness and tempt us, but not so much to destroy us as to win friend…”
← Collapsetheosophy11
The Secret Doctrine | Page 4 (part 2)
“T HE ROOT REMAINS, THE LIGHT REMAINS, THE CURDS REMAIN, AND STILL O EAOHOO IS ONE.
6.
T HE ROOT OF LIFE WAS IN EVERY DROP OF THE OCEAN OF IMMORTALITY, AND THE OCEAN WAS RADIANT LIGHT, WHICH WAS FIRE, AND HEAT, AND MOTION.
D ARKNESS VANIS…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 4 (part 3)
“T HEY MAKE OF HIM THE MESSENGER OF THEIR WILL.
T HE D ZYU BECOMES F OHAT, THE SWIFT SON OF THE D IVINE SONS WHOSE SONS ARE THE L IPIKA, RUNS CIRCULAR ERRANDS.
F OHAT IS THE STEED AND THE THOUGHT IS THE RIDER.
H E PASSES LIKE LIGHTNING TH…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 7 (part 9)
“He is Purusha (spirit), but he is also Prakriti (matter).
Therefore it is only after separating himself into two halves -- Brahma-vach (the female) and Brahma-Viraj (the male), that the Prajapati becomes the male Brahma.
------- STANZA II…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 27 (part 2)
“Everywhere the speculations of the Kabalists treat of Evil as a FORCE, which is antagonistic, but at the same time essential, to Good, as giving it vitality and existence, which it could never have otherwise.
There would be no life possibl…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 27 (part 3)
“Anger, my son, is the destruction of [[Vol.
1, Page]] 416 THE SECRET DOCTRINE.
all that man obtains .
.
.
and prevents the attainment of emancipation.
The sages shun wrath.
Be not thou, my child, subject to its influence.
Let not th…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 54 (part 5)
“The first is from the Book of the Concealed Mystery: -- (429.) From a Light-Bearer (one of the seven sacred planets) of insupportable brightness proceeded a radiating Flame, dashing off, like a vast and mighty hammer, those sparks which wer…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 63 (part 10)
“, without phosphorus no thought), burning in the fierce flames of his terrestrial passions; the conflagration fired by his Thought, discerning as it now does good from evil, and yet a slave to the passions of its earthly Adam; feeling the v…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 72 (part 8)
“Speaking of Adam, Kain, Mars, etc., as personifications, we find the author of " The Source of Measures " enunciating our very esoteric teachings in his Kabalistic researches.
Thus he says: -- "Now Mars was the lord of birth and of death,…”
Show all 11 →jewish_mysticism4
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1a
“CHAPTER V.
1.
(It is written) Isa.
i.
4: "Woe unto the sinful nation, unto the people heavy with iniquity, unto the seed of evildoers, &c." (Here the author of the "Siphra Dtzenioutha" reasoneth concerning the small word HVI, "woe," whi…”
The Kabbalah Unveiled | Introduction, Section 1e
“The seventh space here means Malkuth, the kingdom, or the queen, which together with the six of Microprosopus, makes up the seven lower Sephiroth.
(See Introduction, § 77, further, for the idea of the balance of mercy and judgment.)] 23.…”
The Kabbalah Unveiled | Introduction, Section 1g
“so to speak, not only the executor of judgment, but also the destroyer; destruction as opposed to creation, death as opposed to life.
For the whole Sephiroth are represented as being the balance of mercy and justice, and the tenth Sephira…”
The Kabbalah Unveiled | Introduction, Section 1j
“(Here a reason is adduced from the proposed text itself, showing how the last letter of this form of the Tetragrammaton, namely, I, Yod , may be said to symbolize the bride, since p.
57 [paragraph continues] God himself might behold in tha…”
native_american4
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-d
“After silent prayer, each medicine-man in turn addressed himself to his charge, exhorting him to observe all the rules of the order under the eye of the Mysterious One, and instructing him in his duty toward his fellow-man and toward the Ru…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter IV-a
“BARBARISM AND THE MORAL CODE Silence the Corner-Stone of Character.
Basic Ideas of Morality.
“Give All or Nothing!” Rules of Honorable Warfare.
An Indian Conception of Courage.
Long before I ever heard of Christ, or saw a white man, I h…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-e
“There are some curious traditions of young men and maidens who transgressed this law unknowingly, being seduced and deceived by a magnificent buck deer, perhaps, or a graceful doe, and whose fall was punished with death.
The animal totems…”
Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 70
“THE BRIDE FROM THE SOUTH The North went traveling, and after going far and meeting many different tribes he finally fell in love with the daughter of the South and wanted to marry her. The girl was willing, but her parents objected and said…”
neoplatonism1
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VIII-h
“Hence the ancient priests, by the mutual relation and sympathy of things to each other, collected their virtues into one, but expelled them by repugnancy and antipathy; purifying when it was requisite with sulphur and bitumen, and sprinklin…”