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The New Golden Dawn Flying Roll #4
THE NEW GOLDEN DAWN
FLYING ROLL
IV
Issued by the
Thelemic Order and
Temple of the Golden Dawn
CONCERNING
THE PATHS AND
THE SERPENT OF THE
TREE OF LIFE
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
In the esoteric system of the Qabalah there is what might be
called a "western mandala." This Qabalistic mandala is called
the Tree of Life, and is the supreme magical symbol of all the
forces which constitute the operations of the Universe in its
evolving scheme for absolute freedom of expression. This Tree is
composed of ten Circular Spheres and twenty-two Paths connecting
them. It therefore depicts the idea of thirty-two occult concepts
in all. It is a perfect model of the universal plan and plays a
great role in the esoteric initiation of a Golden Dawn Magician.
It comprehends and synthesizes all forms and concepts of the
Universe, and it embraces all essential keys to attain true union
with the Divine.
The twenty-two Paths of the Qabalistic Tree of Life are
forces of archetypal existence in the unconscious mind of man.
They are microcosmic and subjective, whereas the ten Circular
Spheres (Sphiroth) of the Tree of Life are macrocosmic and
objective. All twenty-two Paths are living essential aspects of
the individual psyche of man. By experiencing each of these
inner forces, in their various modes of psychological expression,
we can extend our conscious empires of experience and knowledge
and thus obtain greater progress in our dynamic endeavor to
participate in the grand scheme of divine evolution.
All twenty-two Paths are various modes of the essence of the
Serpent Force which ascends the Tree of Life to the Supernal
Crown of Qabalistic Light. This Serpent Force is, in the Eastern
Science of Yoga, symbolized by the Kundalini which, for purposes
of initiation, must be controlled, sublimated and made to ascend
through the various Chakras in the Astral Body to the Inner Crown
of Illumination symbolically located above the head. In Magick
this Serpent Force is known as the Astral Light, which is a
subjective, electro-magnetic current within all. To control and
direct the various modes of this Astral Light is the supreme
method by which to cultivate and activate the Magical Will. But
to do this requires an accurate knowledge about those various
inner modes of astral activity.
The Ascending Serpent is also a 'phallic' symbol representing the
inner force of creative reproduction, that is, sexual energy.
Proper application of this 'phallic' energy is the true
method and manner of affecting genuine magical conditions
in Nature. This requires effective mental control and proper
assertion of the Magical Will. Again the essential thing is to
consciously develop knowledge of the various modes of this
'phallic' energy so as to consciously experience and thus
transcend their inner nature. By doing this we can ascertain,
enlarge, and exert the Magical Will with greater wisdom and
skill.
True knowledge is experience, not mental theories or concepts
derived from books. To understand something you will have to
experience the life-essence of that thing. There is no
possibility of knowledge without the essential application of
this practical requirement. Thus you will need to experience all
twenty-two modes of the Serpent Force to be able to control,
direct and affect it, and thereby achieve magical sovereignty.
Each Path of the Tree is a unique mode of the Serpent Force
which, consciously or unconsciously, affects every man and every
woman in one form or another. If we are ignorant of the forces
which affect us within, we are then under their control and no
better off than mere mechanical robots which are controlled by
something or someone other than themselves. But if we develop
true knowledge about those various microcosmic energies, we then
transcend and take control of them. Knowledge is transcendence,
and this is the whole gist of achieving magical sovereignty.
Knowledge is the key to the control of the various energies
within us.
Each Path of the Tree is a door to achieving psychological and
spiritual awareness. By experiencing the various modes of the
Serpent Force within us we can realize ourselves in the light of
true knowledge and attain authentic insight into the meaning
and goal of our existence. Now each Path is a microcosmic
reflection and representation of a macrocosmic or universal
power. This is expressed in the living truth of Hermetic Wisdom:
"As above, so below." By experiencing each of the microcosmic
Paths of the Serpent Force we extend ourselves in such a manner
as to unite ourselves with those various macrocosmic forces. In
other words, we develop cosmic consciousness and universal life
which is the essential destiny of all things in this New Age of
the Cosmic Order.
If we work with the Paths in a systematic and successive
manner up the Tree of Life, we can then produce the necessary
states of consciousness which are required for the devolopment of
Universal Consciousness. In this case we start with the
Serpent's tail at the Path of Tav on the bottom of the Tree of
Life and we end at the head of the Serpent in the Path of Aleph
at the top of the Tree of Life. In other words, we commence our
journey from Malkuth (Below) and end in Kether (Above). Malkuth
is earth, our natural place of habitation. Kether is Spirit, our
transcendent home of spiritual existence. If we ascend upward to
Kether, it is the same as saying that we become one with God or
the Universal Consciousness of all. This is certainly an
endeavor of great significance and is the goal of all who seek to
evolve spiritually and psychologically. The Paths of the Tree of
Life are a good means to accomplishing this high goal, for they
are doors to the Palace of the Infinite; and the Royal Serpent of
Initiation which ascends the Tree of Life is the Sole Guide to
that Ineffable Splendour of the Gods.
Love is the law, love under will.
Fra.'. Oriens Stella Hoorus
In the Victorious City
(An. IIIxx.)---
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