05-29-2011, 12:00 AM
We seem to be speaking about balance here.
My teacher always cautioned against wild swings of emotion. To go back and forth from great joy to great sorrow is not balance.
The Qabalah is the study of balance. There are two ways to approach the tree of life.
An occultist performs certain magical ceremonies in order to experience the power of the Sephiroth and the awareness symbolised by the Paths.
A Mystic goes up the middle pillar.
The former may achieve their aim faster but it is more dangerous and can easily lead to mental imbalance.
The latter keeps the goal of Union with God in mind and fosters stability of mind.
Without this stability, touching with Power on the tree can be deadly.
There is a Major Arcana Tarot card for each path. You will notice that the three cards going up the middle pillar are the World card, Temperence and the High Priestess. Studying these three cards and their symbolism and also meditating on them will help bring on awarenesses that strengthen balance.
These cards are symbols of the awarenesses that they can bring to the fourfront in our consciousness. They are subjective where the Sephiroth are objective.
Take the second card up the middle pillar for example.
There is an angel standing one foot on water and the other on land. In his hands he is pouring water from one goblet into another. When it is full he will have to change the one that is being poured into the one that is pouring. On his breast is the symbol of fire, the ultimate cleansing agent. The refining of metal is accomplished by fire. The hardening of metal is also done with fire. There is a rainbow above the head of the angel that is the symbol of Promise. We do not accomplish spirtual progression, it is a gift. There is a continuing path behind the angel that leads to a golden crown in the distant mountain range. This is the symbol of the highest aspect of God the Unknown (Kether) up at the top of the tree. Though we cannot know God in His entirety we can experience something of Kether. The Unknowable being above the tree as the Limitless Light.
All of these symbols speak of balance in motion. Ever try to balance a bycycle without moving forward? It is almost impossible. But by seeking the source of all, and keeping the goal in mind we are able to balance on the way up the tree.
In the mean time we are blessed with Spiritual blessings coming down from above the abyss. Things like the "peace that passes all understanding ", and "Joy" and the knowledge of "God's love spread abroad in our hearts."
Joh 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
This is also something Solomon did not have.
My teacher always cautioned against wild swings of emotion. To go back and forth from great joy to great sorrow is not balance.
The Qabalah is the study of balance. There are two ways to approach the tree of life.
An occultist performs certain magical ceremonies in order to experience the power of the Sephiroth and the awareness symbolised by the Paths.
A Mystic goes up the middle pillar.
The former may achieve their aim faster but it is more dangerous and can easily lead to mental imbalance.
The latter keeps the goal of Union with God in mind and fosters stability of mind.
Without this stability, touching with Power on the tree can be deadly.
There is a Major Arcana Tarot card for each path. You will notice that the three cards going up the middle pillar are the World card, Temperence and the High Priestess. Studying these three cards and their symbolism and also meditating on them will help bring on awarenesses that strengthen balance.
These cards are symbols of the awarenesses that they can bring to the fourfront in our consciousness. They are subjective where the Sephiroth are objective.
Take the second card up the middle pillar for example.
There is an angel standing one foot on water and the other on land. In his hands he is pouring water from one goblet into another. When it is full he will have to change the one that is being poured into the one that is pouring. On his breast is the symbol of fire, the ultimate cleansing agent. The refining of metal is accomplished by fire. The hardening of metal is also done with fire. There is a rainbow above the head of the angel that is the symbol of Promise. We do not accomplish spirtual progression, it is a gift. There is a continuing path behind the angel that leads to a golden crown in the distant mountain range. This is the symbol of the highest aspect of God the Unknown (Kether) up at the top of the tree. Though we cannot know God in His entirety we can experience something of Kether. The Unknowable being above the tree as the Limitless Light.
All of these symbols speak of balance in motion. Ever try to balance a bycycle without moving forward? It is almost impossible. But by seeking the source of all, and keeping the goal in mind we are able to balance on the way up the tree.
In the mean time we are blessed with Spiritual blessings coming down from above the abyss. Things like the "peace that passes all understanding ", and "Joy" and the knowledge of "God's love spread abroad in our hearts."
Joh 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
This is also something Solomon did not have.