按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
water。〃
〃The worldly hope men set their hearts upon turns to ashes； or it
prospers； and anon； like snow upon the desert's dusty face； lighting a little
hour or two； is gone。〃
TABLET THE SEVENTH
Libra
SYMBOL
A crowned king； with a scythe raised in the air； looks closely at two
boys wrestling beneath him in a field of grain； a red poppy below them。
VII
REFLECTION
TABLET THE SEVENTH
The symbol of Nature's eternal war for the impossible equilibrium
between spirit and matter； the symbol； also； of Time； which is but the
illusion in which eternity clothes itself； forever putting on and forever
putting off new garments of matter。 The crowned king is the victorious
soul； waiting； with the scythe of Time； to reap the harvest of the world；
while incarnated man； as represented in the wrestling youths； is struggling
118
… Page 119…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
for that which he did not produce； and which only death can reap。 The
poppy reveals the secret of the illusions of Nature's master…showman。 All
earthly things are unreal to the spirit； which is the only real thing。 Man's
effort to hoard and save the things of this world IS INJUSTICE TO
OTHERS。 The struggle is eternal； and no matter how careful or cunning
man is to monopolize either power； truth or wealth； swift…footed time will
readjust all things without error。
O child of Adam！ 〃Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth；
where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and
steal。〃
TABLET THE EIGHTH
Scorpio
SYMBOL
A wide； and plain； on it a skeleton； a dull； grey sky； in which an Eagle
soars； full…fed； it seems； from the flesh of the skeleton。
VIII
REFLECTION
TABLET THE EIGHTH
A significant symbol to the seer； showing forth the two ultimates of
life and death； of earthly things and sex。 Scorpio is both the eagle of the
spirit； soaring aloft； well fed with all that is worth carrying away from the
earth； and also the scorpion； whose natural home is the desert。
In sex； either way； life is given。 Shall it be to your spirit making fat
and full your immortal self； or will the other interpretation be yours？ And
will you leave yourself dead and annihilated； a skeleton； to the Ego； the
Divine spirit？ For sex is indeed the foundation of all。 Raised to the region
of Libra； it is power and magnetism。 To the bosom it is love； to the brain it
is enthusiasm。 It is the promethian fire of life； the creative force； giving
vigor to whatever region to which it is raised； or； lowered； to be spent with
no returns； it debases and renders life a desert of dry bones。
O child of Adam！ Reflect on the fall of man from spirit to matter； and
combine the wisdom of the serpent with the purity of the dove； and 〃lest
ye partake of the tree of life ye shall surely die。〃
TABLET THE NINTH
119
… Page 120…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
Saggitarius
SYMBOL
A child in a shell； holding in its hand a feathered lance； is drawn by
five stars； grouped in an under arc。
IX
REFLECTION
TABLET THE NINTH
The symbol of the conscious soul。 The shell is the body； drawn by the
five sensesstarswhich form an under arc； to represent the world of
material things and our relation thereto。 The child； armed with the
feathered lance； is the soul； riding thus； fully armed； in the shell of the
body； it realizes the duality of truth； that all things are changeable； and that
each thing is true upon the plane of its manifestation； while an illusion to
that which is interior to its life； while the soul is in its dream state。
Sagittarius represents conservatism and the permanence of crystallized
institutions； but； when the spirit awakes and bursts the shell of matter； the
senses； instead of being the guardians and jailors of its environment；
become its servants； and the means by which； united as the one Ego；
sense…perception； it races o'er the fields of Aetha being of life and beauty；
shining in the empyrean of God。
O child of Adam！ Ever remember that temperament and environment
constitute the north and south poles of human possibility； and that ability；
combined with opportunity； is the measure of responsibility。
PART 1
Here beginneth Chapter 4 of the Book which is called〃The Tablets of
Aeth；〃 wherein is transcribed the Fourth Quadrant of the Twelve
Mansions。
〃A hair； perhaps； divides the false and true。 Yes； and a single alif were
the clue Could you but find itto the treasure house； And； peradventure；
to THE MASTER； too。
〃Beware； O my son； of self…incense。 It is the most dangerous on
account of its agreeable intoxication。 * * * Learn； O my beloved； that the
light of Allah's truth will often penetrate an empty head more easily than
one too crammed with learning。〃
120
… Page 121…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
TABLET THE TENTH
Capricorn
A deep； black ground； o'er which shimmers a phosphorescent light； at
each side an aurora borealis rises； mountain like； above all； a tiny star。
X
REFLECTION
TABLET THE TENTH
Here is revealed the symbol of the messenger of the Most High。 The
star hovers over the phosphorescent light cast on the darkness as the spirit
hovers over the blackness of matter。 The aurora borealis stands as the
emblem for the magnetic attraction of Earth on spirit； the Christ soon to be
born in the manger of the Goat； the descent of the Holy Ghost into
material form； so that heavenly truth may illumine the drear speculum of
earthly thought with the Divine iridescence of celestial light。 It is the
lowest arc of the cycle that reveals the new birth of death unto lifethe
divine egg of Brahma； containing the promise of the new law： 〃Peace on
Earth； good will towards men。〃
O child of Adam！ Be thou the star； and not a dweller of the outer
darkness； and 〃Let your light so shine before men； that； they may see your
good works。〃
TABLET THE ELEVENTH
Aquarius
SYMBOL
A stormy sea is seen； above it the eight stars shine； brilliant and clear。
XI
REFLECTION
TABLET THE ELEVENTH
This tablet symbolizes the complete materialization of manman；
perfect on the earth and the lord thereof； in so far as material forces are
concerned。 The storm is the tempest of life； the whirl of the elements of
matter in their battle with the spirit。 The eight stars； brilliant now （for they
are the same stars that were dimly seen in Gemini）； show that the conquest
of matter is complete； the great fall of spirit finished； the end of involution。
And this would bring stagnation and death； if peace now ensued。 The
121
… Page 122…
THE LIGHT OF EGYPT
lesson taught is that； not in peace and rest can the soul grow； but amidst
the earthquakes that shake thrones； the floods that overwhelm countries；
the fires that reduce to ashes； has the strong man…soul grown t