Cross Symbolism
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20 THE ALL-SEEING EYE The Symbolism of Our New Cross EHIND all symbolism stand two Among the ancient astronomers and astrol forms, the line and the circle; ogers the cross in the circle was the symbol a the line is the positive, mas of the earth because the abstract power culine symbol because it has no boun of the ever existing cross was restrained by dary, while the circle has differentiated be the concrete power of the circle which limits tween the within and the without and is there· its manifestation. All spiritual bodies are fore concrete and negative. There are two born through the cross, all material bodies forms of lines, the vertical and the horizontal; .ue born through the circle; the occultist and the vertical is boundless life or intelligence of philosopher is the servant of the cross while the Adi plane while the horizontal is bound the mystic is the servant of the circle. The less matter or cosmic root substance. The ancients built their temples of lines and curves cross is composed entirely of angles and lines to represent the alternately positive and nega· and, like the masculine body which is usually tive in nature and how all creation is a blend· angular, represents the positive expression ing of these two, but the great occultists built of struggle. From the union of the vertical, their temples without curves, as the pyramid, abstract intelligence and the horizontal ab while the great mystics built their temples stract matter form is produced which is the without lines as in the Grail legends where concrete child of two abstract parents. Form the whole building was a mass of domes and thus becomes a cross composed of two lines arches without a straight line. The curved which cross each other at differing angles, and often circular windows in churches are the intelligence of the form depending upon all symbols of Matrapadma the Mother Lotus the angle where spirit and matter meet. On for they are remnants of the ancient worships the other hand the circle is composed entirely which, under the sign of Geminus, instructed of curves, the curve being a feminine, con· man especially in the laws of the positive and crete sign representing concrete expression, negative expressions of energy. The circle whereas the cross represents abstract expres is symbolic of the cosmic egg while the cross sion. 4t the point of the crossing of the two is the germ of life which finally breaks arms of the cross a radiation begins as in the through the shell of the egg hut which is pre· crossing of electricity and magnetism or the vented from wasting itself prematurely by the electric and magnetic currents of the earth. protection of the shell. The spiritual ray pouring off from these two The sun, by precession of the equinoxes, at that point of union forms a halo which as has given us the cross. In Cancer the Calvary sumes a circular shape. This energy striking was built or the base of the cross which, ac· matter builds a globular form which is the cording to the Hindoos, was raised upon the concrete area of its intended manifestation. back of the turtle, which turtle is the crab of Therefore among the ancients three symbols astrology. Under the symbol of Geminus the were given to the abstract spirit of creation; Phallic pillar was raised which is still wor· the Father was shown as a dot, the Son as a shipped in religion as the stamen of the lily. circle (which is the feminine symbol for the In ancient Atlantis, which was under the sign Christ is cosmically feminine), while the Holy of Taurus, the horizontal or earthy bar was Spirit Jehovah is given the cross because His added making the cross into a letter T. or Tav. work is the building of form by the bringing In Aries, the head, a globe was added to the into play of vertical and horizontal forces. top of the cross which became the croix ansata The dot is creation, the son is manifestation of Egypt which they knew as the symbol of and the cross is crystallization; thus we have immortality because immortality rests in bal the Brahma, Vishnu and Siva of the Hindoos. ance and the union of the cross and circle The All-seeing Eye of the gods is composed symbolized the union of God and matter. of a dot in a circle which is usually hung at The cross has three divisions; that part the crossing line of a crucifix to represent the above the cross line represents spirit, the Trinity in manifestation. cross line is the veil between, and that below THE AILSEEING EYE 21 the line represents matter, consequently the be turned over to Him as the preserver and proportion is one above and two below be refiner instead of to the builder of form. cause only one phase of the three fold spirit The seven points of the star represent the is yet superior to matter. Seven Elohim or the spirits before the throne With this brief analysis of the cross in gen which pour out from the solar Logos. Every eral and its origin we will now take up the thing in nature has seven divisions; there be symbolism of the emblem which has been ac ing seven great human races, seven great cepted as the symbol of my future work. animal kingdoms, seven great plant kingdoms Behind all is the circle representing the and seven mineral kingdoms. There are area of manifestation differentiated for the seven senses, seven colors, seven sounds or creation of a specialized labor. The four notes and human life is divided up into arms of the cross extend beyond this confin periods of seven years. There are also seven ing line, symbolizing the removal of the wall metals which belong to the Seven Elohim and between the circle of one man's intelligence are the vibratory poles whereby They mani and the circle of another's. The circle has in fest in form. its center an opening, invisible from the sur The sun and the moon appear upon the face, which represents the power of the Logos emblem but are there for want of more com pouring out through forty-nine rays, these plete information. In other words, they are rays representing the seven root outpourings substitutes for two other spheres which are and their seven rounds. not known at the present time. The metals of the planets are as follows: Saturn, indigo, The signs of the zodiac represent the field lead; Sun, yellow, gold; Moon, pale blue, of endeavor and are the twelve divine ave silver; Mars, red, iron; Mercury, violet, nues of expression as they are symbolized in quicksilver; Jupiter, sea or cobolt blue, tin; in astrology; they are the twelve gods and Venus, green, copper; and Saturn, once more also the twelve creative forces and the twelve as the point of entrance and the point of going centers in the human body, seven revealed out, covering all colors and containing all the and five concealed; they also represent the primary shades within Himself. These rep· twelve Apostles gathered around the table in resent also the seven ductless glands under the center of which is the calyx or flower the rulership of these respective planets and which is the symbol of the Holy Ghost. This the seven Great Ones who come to the world circular outpouring represents the birth into at the beginning of each new race. unreality, in which the universe dies by be The star also has four divisions horizont coming manifest, for manifestation is the ally. The lowest division is earth, the center point of death in all creation while the cross division is water, and the next division above is the point of liberation. is fire, while Saturn's point alone is air. On The white cross with the twelve knobs rep the star rests the Indian lotus of ten petals, resents the human body; the temple of God five above and five below, which ten petals built in the form of a cross. It also repre represent the ten numbers of the numerical sents the ignorance of the world which is the system and also the ten original zodiacal signs cross the Master must ca;rry. The twelve before Virgo and Scorpio were split by Libra. knobs are the twelvefold constitution of the The center medallion is threefold in sig human and of the divine organism :-three nificance. The diamond represents the Father bodies, three minds, three souls and three and also the soul of man revealed by his un spirits, only one part of the threefold spirit folding consciousness, the petals of the having descended into matter. The human flower; the rose represents the Son or Christ, spirit is doomed, as was Siva, to drink the the heart; while the lily is the Holy Ghost, world poison for it is keyed to form and is Johovah. The five leaves constitute an in now expressing itself through the ninefold verted star which is so symbolized because it constitution below. But the mystic occultist is represents matter or the black force which is seeking to lift his consciousness until Vishnu, slowly being obliterated by the unfolding the cosmic Christ and the second spirit, shall lotus above. These three, the eternal Trinity, be awakened and the reins of rulership shall rest over the opening which can never be 22 THE ALL-SEEING EYE filled and which is left blank in honor of the creations born out of the mouth of the god first Cause who is unknown.