Martin Akakia – Cl. Galeni Pergameni Ars Medica, Quae et Ars Parva Dicitur, 1548.
Tag: diagram
The Four Worlds are the comprehensive categories of Spiritual Realms in Kabbalah in the descending chain of Existence. The concept of “Worlds” denotes the emanation of creative Lifeforce from the Ein Sof Divine Infinite, through progressive, innumerable Tzimtzumim.
Atziluth (אֲצִילוּת), meaning World of Emanation. On this level the light of the Ein Sof (Infinite Divine “Without End”) radiates and is still united with its source. This supernal revelation therefore precludes the Souls and Divine Emanations in Atzilus from sensing their own existence. In Atzilus the 10 Sephiroth emerge in revelation, with Chochma (Wisdom) dominating, all is nullification of Essence to Divinity, not considered created and separate. The last Sephirah Malchut (Kingdom) is the “Divine Speech” of Genesis 1, through which lower Worlds are sustained.
Beri’ah (בְּרִיאָה), meaning World of Creation. On this level is the first concept of Creatio ex Nihilo, however without yet shape or form, as the creations of Beriah sense their own existence, though in nullification of being to Divinity. Beriah is the realm of the “Divine Throne”, denoting the Sephiroth configuration of Atzilus descending into Beriah like a King on a Throne. The Sephirah Binah (Understanding) predominates, Divine intellect. Also called the “Higher Garden of Eden”. The Highest Ranking Angels are in Beriah.
Yetzirah (יְצִירָה), meaning World of Formation. On this level the created being assumes shape and form. The emotional Sephiroth Chesed to Yesod predominate, the souls and angels of Yetzirah worship through Divine emotion and striving, as they sense their distance from the Understanding of Beriah. This ascent and descent channels the Divine vitality down through the Worlds, furthering the Divine purpose. Therefore, in Yetzirah are the main angels, such as Seraphim, denoting their burning consummation in Divine emotion. Also called the “Lower Garden of Eden”.
Assiah (עֲשִׂיָּה), meaning World of Action. On this level the creation is complete, differentiated and particular, due to the concealment and diminution of the Divine vitality. However, it is still on a spiritual level. The angels of Asiyah function on the active level, as the sephirah Malchut (fulfilment in Kingship) predominates. Below spiritual Asiyah is Asiyah Gashmi (“Physical Asiyah”), the final, lowest realm of Existence, our material Universe with all its creations. The last two Sephiroth of Asiyah channel the Lifeforce into Physical Asiyah.
Circular chart showing a modern set of Talismanic Geomantic Symbols.
The chart informs the Geomancer on the Elemental, Planetary and Zodiacal Correspondences (conforming to Agrippa’s ideas on Planetary Rulership). The upper half shows the Diurnal Figures and the lower half the Nocturnal. The Arabic words in the center of the Circle, “Ilm-al Raml”, translates to the “Science of the Sands”.
“Geomancy is an Art of Divination, wherby the judgement may be rendred by lot, or Destiny, to every question of every thing whatsoever, but the Art hereof consisteth especially in certain points where of certain figures are deducted according to the reason or rule of equality of inequality, likenesse or unlikenesse,; which Figures are also reduced to the Coelestiall Figures, assuming their natures and proprieties, according to the course and forms of the Signes and Planets.” – Henry Cornelius Agrippa
Peter J. Carroll – The Root of every Emotion is always its Opposite, “Liber Null”, 1987.
Zodiac Wheel.
The Zodiac is an imaginary belt of the Heavens, within which are the apparent paths of the Sun, Moon and Planets. The belt contains twelve Constellations of Stars (hence the twelve Signs of the Zodiac) and each of the twelve Signs are governed by one of these four Elements: Earth, Fire, Air or Water. Astrology plays a big part in the Zodiac, as it is the actual study of influence that the Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets have on an individual at the time of their Birth (which creates all the Sun/Moon/Rising Signs of the Zodiac).
The Intersection of Art and Science.
Science and Art probe Reality for different Truths. They may examine the same exact phenomena we encounter as sentient beings, however, by different methods and questions. Both are Ultimate Manifestations of Consciousness and both require and inspire Creativity. Assigning rank or capability is possible only when enforcing specific situations and even then that would be based on the individuals background and biases, therefore rendering it no longer ‘Absolute’ on the grand scheme of things.
Of the many human disciplines, there are few that could seem more divergent than Art and Science. The artist employs image and metaphor; the scientist uses number and equation. Art creates illusions meant to evoke emotion, while science engages in the pursuit of empirical verification. There is, to some degree, a physiological cause for this apparent divergence: the two halves, or hemispheres, of the brain. The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions and intuition, the left for logic and reason. Yet the notion of two brains gives rise to the function of one Mind. Perhaps it is this one “Undivided Mind” that presents a way forward through the monumental cultural changes we now face, enabling us to surf this dynamic moment in history from a platform of Balance and Symmetry.
Neil deGrasse Tyson also discussed the possibility for Universal Truths within the Realms of Science and Art. He notes that one of the definitive differences is that with Science, the same answer should be uncovered regardless of the observer in pursuit. Art, however, produces answers completely unique to the observer. This intellectual collision of seemingly disparate bedfellows, that something magical and unexpected happens: new patterns emerge; new connections are forged between previously unconnected ideas and inspiration reigns. The main difference between Science and the Arts is not that they are different sides of the same coin, even different parts of the same Continuum, but rather, they are Manifestations of the same thing. The Arts and Sciences are Avatars of Human Creativity.
Eliphas Levi – Formation of the Soul, “La Clef des Grands Mystères” (The Key to the Great Mysteries), 1861.
A diagram showing the formation of the Soul in Kabbalah. The top three circles represent Neschamah, Ruach and Nephesch. Ruach and Nephesch, influenced by Neschamah, proceeds to Michael, the good Angel of the Soul. From Nephesch, dominating Ruach, it proceeds to Samael, the evil Angel of the Soul. The Tzelem, or image, is double as it reflects both Michael and Samael alike.
A Metaphysical Map of Consciousness/Reality.
In this Integral Mandala we see the four ontoclines or gradations of Reality, as the four arms of the Mandala. Each of these correspond in a generic way to one of the primary parameters of Consciousness and Reality. These four themselves come from a Center, representing the Divine or Supreme or Absolute Reality, and this Center is itself made up of four as well as three levels.The four ontoclines are as follows:
Left – Self and Non-Self from True Self / “I” to Non-Self / “This” / Phenomena (and vice versa) – representing the Monadology (or pluratity and unity) of Selves. This pertains to the Nature of the Knowing Self (especially as elaborated in Eastern Philosophy). With Liberation (moksha, Enlightenment) in one realises one already is the Absolute (Atman-Brahman).
Bottom – The “Vertical” Physical-Spiritual Axis – from Transcendent Spiritual Mind down to Physical Matter (and vice-versa) – representing the Hierarchy (Great Chain of Being) of Octaves of Existence. This “Vertical” Axis or Planes of Existence (in which one ascends to the Absolute) corresponds to the various subtle and gross Universes and ocatves as described through Esotericism and Occultism with their understanding of the Nature of gross and subtle Realities, and to the ascent of Consciousness through levels of Existence.
Right – The “Horizontal” Inner-Outer Axis represents the contrast between the Innermost (Inner Light, Divine Soul) and Outermost (most external) Being – representing the Psychological Polarity of Being. The “Horizontal” Inner-Outer Axis corresponds to Psychology and Mysticism which addresses the depths of the being, and also on a more superficial level to the Arts with its dicotomy of Mythos and Logos, Imagination and Reason, and to depth and transpersonal psychology.
Top – The Universal-Individual-Atomistic Axis – From Universal Whole to “Atomistic” “Point” (and vice versa) constitutes the Holarchic arrangement of Systems. This “Concentric” Universal-Individual Axis corresponds, on the physical level, to Science especially the systems sciences and natural and applied sciences, also the social sciences in part. On the supraphysical it becomes the domain of Esotericism, but the basic principles of interaction, ecology, system dynamics, chaos theory, and so on. The overall Reality is the (esoteric) science of Cosmecology, which includes the experiential approach of Astrognosis.
All the ontoclines together represent the Spiritual Path; not literalist or exoteric religion, but Yoga, Sadhana, and Esoteric (Mystical) Religion; the Essense of Self-Transformation.
Circular chart showing a modern set of Talismanic Geomantic Symbols.
The chart informs the Geomancer on the Elemental, Planetary and Zodiacal Correspondences (conforming to Agrippa’s ideas on Planetary Rulership). The upper half shows the Diurnal Figures and the lower half the Nocturnal. The Arabic words in the center of the Circle, “Ilm-al Raml”, translates to the “Science of the Sands”.
“Geomancy is an Art of Divination, wherby the judgement may be rendred by lot, or Destiny, to every question of every thing whatsoever, but the Art hereof consisteth especially in certain points where of certain figures are deducted according to the reason or rule of equality of inequality, likenesse or unlikenesse,; which Figures are also reduced to the Coelestiall Figures, assuming their natures and proprieties, according to the course and forms of the Signes and Planets.” – Henry Cornelius Agrippa
The Bembine Tablet of Isis and Eliphas Levi’s Key to the Tablet.
The Bembine Tablet is a Key to the Ancient Book of Thoth. Although the scenes are Egyptianising, they do not depict Egyptian rites. Figures are shown with non-customary attributes, making it unclear which are divinities and which kings or queens. Egyptian motifs are used without rhyme or reason. However, the central figure is recognisable as Isis, suggesting that the Tablet originated in some Roman centre of her worship.
The diagram of Levi, by which he explains the mystery of the Tablet, shows the Upper Region divided into the four seasons of the year, each with three signs of the Zodiac, and he has added the four-lettered sacred name, the Tetragrammaton, assigning Jod to Aquarius, that is Canopus, He to Taurus, that is Apis, Vau to Leo, that is Momphta, and He final to Typhon. Note the Cherubic parallel – Man, Bull, Lion and Eagle. The fourth form is found either as Scorpion or Eagle depending upon the Occult good or evil intention: in the Demotic Zodiac, the Snake replaces the Scorpion. The Lower Region he ascribes to the twelve simple Hebrew letters, associating them with the four quarters of the horizon. The Central Region he ascribes to the Solar powers and the Planetary.
In the middle we see above, the Sun, marked Ops, and below it is a Solomon’s Seal, above a cross; a double triangle Hexapla, one light and one dark triangle superposed, the whole forming a sort of complex symbol of Venus. To the Ibimorphos he gives the three dark planets, Venus, Mercury, and Mars placed around a dark triangle erect, denoting Fire. To the Nephthæan triad he gives three light planets, Saturn, Luna, and Jupiter, around a light inverted triangle which denotes Water. There is a necessary connection between water, female power, passive principle, Binah, and Sephirotic Mother, and Bride.
Ancient signs for the planets were all composed of a Cross, Solar Disc and Crescent: Venus is a cross below a Sun disc, Mercury, a disc With a crescent above and cross below, Saturn is a Cross whose lowest point touches the apex of the crescent; Jupiter is a Crescent whose lowest point touches the left hand end of a cross: all these are deep mysteries. Levi in his original plate transposed Serapis and Hecate, but not the Apis noir and Apis blanc, perhaps because of the head of Bes being associated by him with Hecate. Note that having referred the 12 simple letters to the lower, the 7 double must correspond to the central region of the planets, and then the great triad A.M.S. the mother letters representing Air, Water, and Fire remain to be pictured, around S the Central Iynx, or Yod, by the Ophionian Triad the two Serpents and the Leonine Sphynx. Levi’s word OPS in the centre is the Latin Ops, Terra, genius of the Earth; and the Greek Ops, Rhea, or Kubele (Cybele) often drawn as a goddess seated in a chariot drawn by lions; she is crowned with turrets, and holds a Key.
Occult Aspects 