The Mystic Path - Path 22
7:44 PM
We are currently engaged in an almost two-year initiatory Pathworking with The Qabalah Tree of Life. You can read what that's all about here. In the meantime, I have been documenting our work as we explore the Paths.
It is important to know these are brief notes. A true understanding of each Path begs a vital understanding of the Sephiroth connecting them. Further research on your own is highly recommended.
It is important to know these are brief notes. A true understanding of each Path begs a vital understanding of the Sephiroth connecting them. Further research on your own is highly recommended.
We have completed Path 23, now for Path 23 .....
Path 23 was almost too much for me. Someday I will write about the challenges, but it definitely put me on the brink. And then, I read in Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki's The Shining Paths that this next path, Path 22, "can be the nearest thing to spiritual agony." My heart sank. She continues, that for the student of Qabalah, an initiate, "it can be the point at which a crossroads is reached in his decision to go on, or remain where he is." (p. 102)
I almost threw the book. I was about done.
But then, I read on. Chic and Sandra Cicero of course refer to the Yetziratic text which calls this path the Faithful Intelligence: "The 'Faithful Intelligence' relates this path to the concept of amen or 'faith.' Amen also has the additional meanings of 'so mote it be,' 'loyalty,' and 'steadfastness.' Those who remain faithful or loyal to the will of the Eternal, benefit from this allegiance by receiving an increase in 'spiritual virtues.'" (Israel Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranates, p.359) This is the place where we really truly begin to meet our mettle in true integration of the Individuality (the Higher Self) where the Personality (Lower Self) has no place.
The Hebrew letter, Lamed, is the 'ox-goad,' the instrument which guides the ox down its path. Seeing as the first Hebrew letter, Aleph (Path 11) means 'ox,' we see an obvious reciprocal relationship here. "We are urged down this path with a gentle but firm insistence," Dolores continues. "Giving us a picture of the Creator firmly guiding his recalcitrant children down the road of evolution, oft times it seems when they are hell bent on going the other way." (p.102)
Generally known as the Path of Karmic Adjustment, this is where the Lords of Karma work on us like surgeons in order to restore cosmic balance. "The answer lies in one word," Gareth Knight says. "Redemption. [...] It means the ability to face up to the true situation within oneself coupled with the willingness to change it." (A Practical Guide to Qabalastic Symbolism, Vol. II, p. 115) This requires brutal honesty, discernment, and a lot of courage.
The best way to understand this Path is from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. In the Judgment Hall where the dead go, the Hall has another name referred to as the Hall of the Double Maat. "Maat [...] is the goddess of Absolute Law, and the heart of the dead is weighed in the balance against the symbol of Maat, which is a feather, emblematical of Right and Truth. The fact that it is the heart that is weighed in interesting in that the heart centre corresponds to Tiphareth." (Knight, p.116) We see the obvious connection, as well, to the astrological sign Libra (the scales) as well as the symbology of the Tarot trump. It must be noted that a feather often represents air in the shamanic traditions, which translates into a sword in the Western Mystery Tradition (as seen in the card).
I think it best to leave this section with a beautiful piece written by Aleister Crowley about his Thoth Tarot Trump of this path (which he calls Adjustment). He talks of the Harlequin (his version of Justice in the card) and the Fool (from Path 11, Aleph). In deciphering this statement lies the key to understanding this Path:
"In the greatest symbolism of all, however, the symbolism beyond all planetary and Zodiacal considerations, this card is the feminine compliment to The Fool. [...] This woman-goddess is Harlequin; she is the partner and fulfillment of The Fool. She is the ultimate illusion which is manifestation; she is the dance, many-coloured, many-wiled, of Life itself. Constantly whirling, all possibilities are enjoyed, under the phantom show of Space and Time: all things are real, the soul is the surface, precisely because they are instantly compensated by this Adjustment. All things are harmony and beauty; all things are Truth: because they cancel out." (The Book of Thoth, p.86-87)
Path 23 was almost too much for me. Someday I will write about the challenges, but it definitely put me on the brink. And then, I read in Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki's The Shining Paths that this next path, Path 22, "can be the nearest thing to spiritual agony." My heart sank. She continues, that for the student of Qabalah, an initiate, "it can be the point at which a crossroads is reached in his decision to go on, or remain where he is." (p. 102)
I almost threw the book. I was about done.
But then, I read on. Chic and Sandra Cicero of course refer to the Yetziratic text which calls this path the Faithful Intelligence: "The 'Faithful Intelligence' relates this path to the concept of amen or 'faith.' Amen also has the additional meanings of 'so mote it be,' 'loyalty,' and 'steadfastness.' Those who remain faithful or loyal to the will of the Eternal, benefit from this allegiance by receiving an increase in 'spiritual virtues.'" (Israel Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranates, p.359) This is the place where we really truly begin to meet our mettle in true integration of the Individuality (the Higher Self) where the Personality (Lower Self) has no place.
The Hebrew letter, Lamed, is the 'ox-goad,' the instrument which guides the ox down its path. Seeing as the first Hebrew letter, Aleph (Path 11) means 'ox,' we see an obvious reciprocal relationship here. "We are urged down this path with a gentle but firm insistence," Dolores continues. "Giving us a picture of the Creator firmly guiding his recalcitrant children down the road of evolution, oft times it seems when they are hell bent on going the other way." (p.102)
Generally known as the Path of Karmic Adjustment, this is where the Lords of Karma work on us like surgeons in order to restore cosmic balance. "The answer lies in one word," Gareth Knight says. "Redemption. [...] It means the ability to face up to the true situation within oneself coupled with the willingness to change it." (A Practical Guide to Qabalastic Symbolism, Vol. II, p. 115) This requires brutal honesty, discernment, and a lot of courage.
The best way to understand this Path is from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. In the Judgment Hall where the dead go, the Hall has another name referred to as the Hall of the Double Maat. "Maat [...] is the goddess of Absolute Law, and the heart of the dead is weighed in the balance against the symbol of Maat, which is a feather, emblematical of Right and Truth. The fact that it is the heart that is weighed in interesting in that the heart centre corresponds to Tiphareth." (Knight, p.116) We see the obvious connection, as well, to the astrological sign Libra (the scales) as well as the symbology of the Tarot trump. It must be noted that a feather often represents air in the shamanic traditions, which translates into a sword in the Western Mystery Tradition (as seen in the card).
I think it best to leave this section with a beautiful piece written by Aleister Crowley about his Thoth Tarot Trump of this path (which he calls Adjustment). He talks of the Harlequin (his version of Justice in the card) and the Fool (from Path 11, Aleph). In deciphering this statement lies the key to understanding this Path:
"In the greatest symbolism of all, however, the symbolism beyond all planetary and Zodiacal considerations, this card is the feminine compliment to The Fool. [...] This woman-goddess is Harlequin; she is the partner and fulfillment of The Fool. She is the ultimate illusion which is manifestation; she is the dance, many-coloured, many-wiled, of Life itself. Constantly whirling, all possibilities are enjoyed, under the phantom show of Space and Time: all things are real, the soul is the surface, precisely because they are instantly compensated by this Adjustment. All things are harmony and beauty; all things are Truth: because they cancel out." (The Book of Thoth, p.86-87)
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