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PHILOSOPHUS GRADE: DEFINING THE GRADE
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The Philosophus, through direct experience, bridges the
bottomless pit between knowledge and wisdom, uniting adoration
and flame (Netzach). The obliteration of servitude (Pé), strikes
the weapon upon the little earth (Kaph), waking the apparition
(Nun), infusing desire (Ayin), and in the end stands upon the
path (Samekh) from the first order to the second. Thus is the
art refined unto the perfection of expression (completion of the
system allowing the elucidation of ‘any’ and ‘all’ ideas – this
is the final stage of creative training, and confirms that the
Philosophus has attained the second of three stages of
self-sufficiency).
Although clear and complete instruction is provided to the
Philosophus, it is expected that the finer details, especially
concerning all forms of how, need not be given with undue
coaching. It is enough that the Philosophus be given the tasks
of their grade and guidance into Dominus Liminis. Instruction
beyond this, indicates insufficient training or unworthy
advancement.
Netzach (Wand)
The Philosophus attains to the last sephiroth of the first
order, and this through the first method of destruction. The way
from the house of Victory is secured in the uniting (cutting of
the Wand), devotion through adoration (Bhakti Yoga), and the
permutation of the one from the many (Liber DCCCXIII).
“It was all built of malachite and emerald, and there was
the loveliest gentlest living, and I was married to my Fairy
Prince there, and we had the most delicious honeymoon, and I had
a beautiful baby, and then I remembered myself, but only just in
time, and said: "Kiss me!" And he kissed me and said: "My
goodness! But that was a near thing that time; my little girl
nearly went to sleep. Most people who reach the Seventh House
stay there all their lives, I can tell you." It did seem a shame
to go on; there was such a flashing green star to light it, and
all the air was filled with amber-coloured flames like kisses.
And we could see through the floor, and there were terrible
lions, like furnaces for fury, and they all roared out: "Holy!
Holy! Holy!" and leaped and danced for joy. And when I saw
myself in the mirrors, the dome was one mass of beautiful green
mirrors, I saw how serious I looked, and that I had to go on. I
hoped the Fairy Prince would look serious too, because it is a
most dreadful business going beyond the Seventh House; but he
only looked the same as ever. But oh! How I kissed him, and how
I clung to him, or I think I should never , never have had the
courage to go up those dreadful passages, especially knowing
what was at the end of them. And now I'm only a little girl, and
I'm ever so tired of writing, but I'll tell you all about the
rest another time.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Pé (Destruction)
Attack the second half of the equation – the destruction of
thought, balanced with the second half of completion – the
composition of art. Then let the tightrope be gripped by the
toes, the haze of conscious doubt cleared, and the passage from
here to there navigated at the last.
“The third path is a most terrible passage; it's all a great
war, and there's earthquakes and chariots of fire, and all the
castles breaking to pieces. I was glad when we Came to the Green
Palace.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Kaph (Equilibrium)
The end of this pathway can only be seen when the completed
Magical Lamp has been lit, however the Philosophus may still
step upon this pathway and learn the secret of the adverse. That
is, he or she may learn to stand without falling. This is the
only level of attainment currently possible. Yet it is enough
and the tasks presented, will accomplish this, even if only
begun.
“There are three ways into the Fourth House from below. The
first passage is a very curious place, all full of wheels and
ever such strange creatures, like monkeys and sphinxes and
jackals climbing about them and trying to get to the top. It was
very silly, because there isn't really any top to a wheel at
all; the place you want to get to is the centre, if you want to
be quiet.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Nun (Resolution)
The end of this pathway can only be seen when the completed
Magical Lamp has been lit, however the Philosophus may still
observe the actions of the reactions, and this through only one
practice, accomplished in a certain manner.
“My Fairy Prince was laughing all the time in the third
path. There was nobody there but an old gentleman who had put on
his bones outside, and was trying ever so hard to cut down the
grass with a scythe. But the faster he cut it the faster it
grew. My Fairy Prince said: "Everybody that ever was has come
along this path, and yet only one ever got to the end of it."
But I saw a lot of people walking straight through as if they
knew it quite well; he explained, though, that they were really
only one; and if you walked through that proved it. I thought
that was silly, but he's much older and wiser than I am; so I
said nothing. The truth is that it is a very hard Palace to talk
about, and the further you get in, the harder it is to say what
you mean because it all has to be put into dream talk, as of
course the language of the wake-world is silence.” [Quoted
from Liber XCV]
Ayin (Rapture)
The end of this pathway can only be seen when the completed
Magical Lamp has been lit, however the Philosophus may still
step upon this pathway and partake of the mysteries therein.
Therefore, the Practicus, having the comprehension of the
artistic method infused into the scheme of the whole, partake of
the feast, which he or she calls and binds through their art.
“But in the first we came to a mighty throne of gray
granite, shaped like the sweetest pussy cat you ever saw, and
set up on a desolate heath. It was midnight, and the Devil came
down and sat in the midst; but my Fairy Prince whispered: "Hush!
It is a great secret, but his name is Yeheswah, and he is the
Saviour of the World." And that was very funny, because the girl
next me thought it was Jesus Christ, till another Fairy Prince
(my Prince's brother) whispered as he kissed her: "Hush, tell
nobody ever, that is Satan, and he is the Saviour of the World."
We were a very great company, and I can't tell you of all the
strange things we did and said, or of the song we sang as we
danced face outwards in a great circle ever closing in on the
Devil on the throne. But whenever I saw a toad or a bat, or some
horrid insect, my Fairy Prince always whispered: "It is the
Saviour of the World," and I saw that it was so. We did all the
most beautiful wicked things you can imagine, and yet all the
time knew they were good and right, and must be done if ever we
were to get to the House of Gold. So we enjoyed ourselves very
much and ate the most extraordinary supper you can think of.
There were babies roasted whole and stuffed with pork sausages
and olives; and some of the girls cut off chops and steaks from
their own bodies, and gave them to a beautiful white cook at a
silver grill, that was lighted with the gas of dead bodies and
marshes; and he cooked them splendidly, and we all enjoyed it
immensely. Then there was a tame goat with a gold collar, that
went about laughing with everyone; and he was all shaved in
patches like a poodle. We kissed him and petted him, and it was
lovely. You must remember that I never let go of my Fairy Prince
for a single instant, or of course I should have been turned
into a horrid black toad.” [Quoted from Liber XCV]
Samekh (Rose and Cross)
The end of the order that is the golden dawn is the willed
elevation into the next grade, and no challenge may be accepted
from without, but annihilation from within if much is lacking in
all that came before.
“Then there was another passage called the Arrow by Day, and
there was a most lovely lady all shining with the sun, and moon,
and stars, who was lighting a great bowl of water with one hand,
by dropping dew on it out of a cup, and with the other she was
putting out a terrible fire with a torch. She had a red lion and
a white eagle, that she had always had ever since she was a
little girl. She had found them in a nasty pit full of all kinds
of nasty filth, and they were very savage; but by always
treating them kindly they had grown up faithful and good. This
should be a lesson to all of us never to be unkind to our pets.”
[Quoted from Liber XCV]
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