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Occult Wisdom

Qabalah, Astrology | The Tarot

Occult Symbols

Traditional Occult wisdom takes the form of systems of symbols. The study of these symbols for their own sake will not yield greater understanding, instead they should be used as tools to aid the individual in a personal exploration of the nature of reality. The Qabalah (tree of life) is a diagram summarizing the fundamental forces of the universe and their relationship to each other. A more familiar, but no less legitimate, form of occult symbolism is found in Astrology. The Tarot is another ancient symbolic representation of esoteric truths (the evolution of life and its relationship to the universe). The Tarot can also relate to the 22 paths between the spheres of the Qabalah.

The "occult" is the collection of profound knowledge, developed through the ages, that embodies man's quest to re-connect with his true nature as part of some greater Spiritual reality. Though the occult pathway is lifelong, Real Mind Power Secrets describes some simple techniques to begin reawakening your powerful but dormant mental faculties.

The Qabalah

Malkuth the kingdom, sphere ten, represents the physical reality of solids, liquids and gasses, the physical body, matter, energy, space and time. Its colours are citrine, olive, russet and black.

Yesod the foundation, sphere nine, is concerned with subconscious feelings, dreams and automatic (uncontrolled) instincts associated with life. Its colour is violet and its planet, the Moon.

Hod, glory, is sphere eight. It represents intellect, reason, logic, science and mathematics, clean-cut precision and blacks and whites with no in-betweens. Its colour is orange and its planet, Mercury.

Netzach, victory, is the seventh sphere. It symbolizes feeling, emotion, the non-quantifiable, opinions (rather than facts), the arts and an infinity of shades of grey. Green is its colour and Venus its planet.

Tiphereth, beauty, is sphere six. It is concerned with balance, moderation, realism, liberalism, the route to the appreciation of a power greater than man and open-mindedness. Its color is rose-pink flecked with gold and its planet is the Sun.

Geburah, strength, severity is the fifth sphere. Its realm is destruction and violence which is often right (e.g. the punishment of evil) but must be applied with reason or it can lead to senseless destruction and unjustified violence (e.g. the atom bomb, crime etc.). This sphere is essential for reform and progress, its color is red and its planet, Mars.

Chesed, mercy, is sphere four. Its concern is giving without receiving, protectiveness, generosity and parent or grandparent-like qualities. In excess this sphere will bring loss of independence and determination. Its color is blue and its planet is Jupiter.

The extremes of Geburah and Chesed are balanced by Tiphereth.

Binah, understanding, is sphere three. It is the form that is energized by, receives and understands the wisdom of Chokmah. Crimson, black and brown are its colours and Saturn, its planet.

Chokmah, wisdom is the second sphere. It is the energizing force and basic wisdom given shape by Binah. Its colours are blue and grey.

Kether, the crown, is the first sphere. It represents God, absolute perfection, the infinite, supreme ultimate. Its color is pure brilliance.

At the head of Kether is Ain (nothingness), Ain Soph (limitlessness) and Ain Soph Aur (limitless light). Between Kether and Tiphereth lies Daath, the hidden sephira. It represents the bridge over the abyss separating divinity from the not quite divine.

Recommended reading

The Mystical Qabalah Dion Fortune. A classic and accessible introduction to the Tree of Life. Fortune was one of the first Adepts to bring this "secret tradition" to a wider audience. Some before her often only added to the overall mystery by elaborating on obscurity, but her account is simple, clear and comprehensive.

Magic of Qabalah Kala Trobe. Magic of Qabalah presents the Tree of Life in a way that resonates with the modern seeker - not as a static, arcane system that is only to be studied and pondered, but as a living structure that allows experience of and interaction with the primal forces of Creation. You will enter into the mystery of the Spheres and Paths by a direct inner journey, discovering for yourself the Divine realms of Being and Becoming. When you learn to identify with these universal energies you can use them for any purpose you desire.

Qabalah: A Magical Primer John Bonner. While it began as a mystical interpretation of Jewish scriptural texts, today Qabalah is much more. This scholarly introduction explores the mysteries of Qabalah through the symbolism of the Tree of Life and its four distinct elements: the three Pillars of Manifestation, the ten Holy Sephiroth, the Paths that run to and from the Sephiroth, and the Veils. For each Sephira, Bonner provides detailed information on magical, astrological, and tarot correspondences - as well as how different religious traditions relate to the concepts contained in each.

The Aquarian Qabalah Naomi Ozaniec. A Contemporary Initiation into a Secret Tradition.

777 And Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley Israel Regardie. This collection of Qabalistic texts is without parallel in the history of mystical literature. Edited and introduced by Dr. Israel Regardie, the three texts included are Gematria, 777, and Sepher Sephiroth.

More books on the Qabalah

The Elements

The four elements of earth, air, water and fire give a four-point analysis of the universe. Earth is associated the practical, restraint, sensation etc. Air is associated with communication, mental-activity, thought etc. Water is associated with emotion, feeling etc. Fire is associated with energy, assertiveness, intuition etc.

Astrology

For centuries man has believed there to be a link between the movements of heavenly bodies and the day-to-day events of his earthly existence, "as above, so below". The work of Prof. M. Gauquelin has produced impressive evidence showing that the position's of the planets at a person's birth has an influence on their future aptitudes. The Swiss psychologist C.G. Jung made frequent reference to astrology. At the very least the twelve astrological signs provide a succinct description of the human psyche.

Aries; impulsive, quick-tempered, enterprising, courageous, objective, urgent; Mars; fire.

Taurus; money-minded, dependable, obstinate, strong, productive, enduring; Venus; earth.

Gemini; versatile, changeable, shallow, quick-witted; Mercury; air.

Cancer; sympathetic, touchy, moody, defensive, sensitive; Moon; water.

Leo; patronizing, generous, snobbish, high-spirited, powerful, impressive; Sun; fire.

Virgo; helpful, modest, perfectionist, analytical, critical; Mercury; earth.

Libra; co-operative, lazy, diplomatic, indecisive, related, harmonious; Venus; air.

Scorpio; brave, determined, vengeful, jealous, penetrating, intense; Mars/Pluto; water.

Sagittarius; open-minded, careless, enthusiastic, boastful, extensive, free; Jupiter; fire.

Capricorn; mean, materialistic, organized, cautious, rational, prudent; Saturn; earth.

Aquarius; rebellious, eccentric, friendly, freedom-loving, detached; Saturn/Uranus; air.

Pisces; sloppy, kind, impractical, imaginative, vague, impressionable; Jupiter/Neptune; water.

It is a gross over-simplification to treat the signs of the zodiac as mere pigeon holes, indeed, we all contain a little of each of the signs in a unique mix of individuality.

The seven planets symbolize universal principles.

Sun; self-integration.

Moon; rhythms, instinctive response, reflection.

Mercury; communication, mental and nervous co-ordination.

Venus; unity, sympathy, evaluation, feeling.

Mars; activity, enterprise, self-assertion, energy.

Jupiter; expansion, material growth, understanding.

Saturn; formative, restriction, discipline, rigidity.

Recommended reading

The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need Joanna Woolfolk. This classic guide to astrological history, legend and practice is here revised and updated for a new generation of astrologers. Includes computer-accurate planetary tables that allow anyone born between 1900 and 2100 to pinpoint quickly their sun and moon signs, discover their ascendants, and map out the exact positions of the planets at the time of their birth. The step-by-step instructions on creating and interpreting a personal chart feature former President Bill Clinton as an example to guide and enlighten readers as they map out their unique horoscope.

Chart Interpretation Handbook: Guidelines for Understanding the Essentials of the Birth Chart Stephen Arroyo. This book offers a step-by-step method using clear, modern language that reveals the essential meanings of any birth chart. Focusing on precise, in-depth language in a way that never loses sight of the basic principles being considered, the author emphasizes how to think astrologically in such a way that the central, reliable meanings are always kept in view.

Astrology for the Soul Jan Spiller. Astrologer Jan Spiller shows you the key to discovering your hidden talents, your deepest desires, and the ways you can avoid negative influences that may distract you from achieving your true life purpose, as revealed in your chart by the position of the North Node of the Moon. With insight and depth impossible to gain from the commonly known sun-sign profiles, the enlightening self-portrait offered by the Nodes of the Moon can explain the life lessons you came here to learn and how to achieve the fulfillment and peace you desire.

Intuitive Astrology : Follow Your Best Instincts to Become Who You Always Intended to Be Elizabeth Rose Campbell. Is astrology destiny? Of course not! Your birth chart does not foresee a future written in stone, and predictive astrology is just a parlor game. The original purpose of astrology was to help you tap into your inner wisdom, ask yourself the right questions, and find your own answers to life’s challenges. This unconventional and refreshing guide helps you reconnect with the sea of intuition that flows through each of us—so you can discover your true purpose.

Cosmic Influences on Human Behavior Michel Gauquelin. Dr Gauquelin discovered in studying the birth of 25,000 European professionals listed in Who's Who, that certain planets were found more frequently at the rising or culminating positions in the horoscope. For example, Mars ascended or culminated in the case of athletes with the probability against chance distribution ranging from 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 1,000,000. This work has been internationally recognized as the most important scientific support that Astrology has ever received. Dr Gauquelin has validated the existence of a correlation between the state of the solar system and human experience.

More Astrology books

Astrology and Tarot on the Web

Recommended reading on the Occult

The Occult Colin Wilson. The Ultimate Book for Those Who Would Walk With the Gods.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Reader's Edition) Manly Palmer Hall. A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is now available in a compact, fully reset "Readers Edition." Manly P. Hall's legendary The Secret Teaching of All Ages is a codex to the ancient occult and esoteric traditions of the world. Its hundreds of entries shine a rare light on some of the most fascinating and closely held aspects of myth, religion, and philosophy that resound from antiquity to the present day.

The Black Arts Richard Cavendish. This book describes in detail the practice, theory and underlying rationale of black magic in all its branches - the summoning and control of evil spirits, necromancy, psychic attack, devil worship, witchcraft, the black mass, evil charms and spells - as well as other branches of occult theory: numerology, astrology, the Cabala, the tarot. Ancient black magic, the beliefs and practices of the great black magicians of the past 150 years, and the theories of cabalists, astrologers, and numerologists of the present day are all fully covered in this fascinating book.

The Tree of Life: An Illustrated Study in Magic Israel Regardie; edited and annotated by Chic Cicero, Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Since it was first published in 1932, The Tree of Life has provided spiritual seekers and aspiring magicians with the most comprehensive study of the common threads of magical theory and practice. Israel Regardie's mission of bringing magic into the light of understanding takes a giant step forward in this new edition featuring enhancements from two Adept associates of Regardie's.

Book of the Law Aleister Crowley.

Other books by (or about) Aleister Crowley

More Occult Books

The Occult on the Web

Next: The Tarot

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