Chapter VI – Further Light on the Tree of Life

We should now try to understand the Mystery of “The Tree of Life which is one with the Tree of Knowledge.” It is written: “The letter killeth and the Spirit giveth life.”

The Structure of the Tree of Life as represented in our diagram is evidently a Divinely given Plan of the Multi-dimensional Sphere of the Universe, in Two-Dimensions. When we examine it superficially it means little or nothing; gradually, as we absorb the Divine Ideas reflected through its medium, our minds take on the Image and Likeness of God, and we are enabled to comprehend all in Spherical form.

The Qabalah teaches us to think of a greater and greater number of things, in the light of fewer and fewer Ultimate Ideas, as has been shown in the chapter on “The Essence of the Practical Qabalah.” The highest Reason which is in God and which is God, is absolutely One. God knows all things by One Idea, which is identical with His Being.

The limitations of Time and Circumstance obsess us, and we are at first unable to grasp the Divine Plan. Tradition is the result of the Thought of Humanity in the “past” focused in the Present, the Here and Now. So it is in regard to what we term the “future.” The Plan of the Tree of Life gives us an idea of the Unchanging Basis of the Here and Now, in time and space.

The Reformulation of the Paths has made this clear; we have seen how the past leads to the Present, and glimpsed a Vision of the Great Light of the Beginning, which will Dawn on Humanity in the “future.” Those who are able to comprehend may obtain this Reward Now. Nuit has said: “I give unimaginable joys on earth, certainty, not faith, while in life upon death, peace unalterable, rest, ecstasy, nor do I demand aught in sacrifice.” Or as Christ said to one of the two thieves (Time and Space), “This Day shalt thou be with me in Paradise”; and on another occasion; “Now is the Accepted Time, Now is the Day of Salvation.”

Let us examine the Tree of Life again in order that we may further grasp its mystery, and how it comes about that the New Aeon is possible in Human Consciousness. We must use the language of time and space, but we shall be informed of the Spirit if our minds are open to the Truth.

Horus, the Ever-Coming Son, is said to have appeared under many forms, as the Great Cycle of the Precession of the Equinoxes progressed. The Complete Cycle is said to be 25868 years; though in more ancient reckoning it was 26000 years, when the year was taken to represent 360 days. 2155 Years represents one Sign on the Grand Zodiac, and every 2155 years Horus appears in a new guise. About 11,030 B.C. He would have appeared in the Sign of Leo, as the Lion God. If we examine the position of this Path on the Tree, we find it unites Tiphereth and Netzach. It is my opinion that the consciousness of Humanity during that period would be particularly influenced by that Path, and that the flower of the race could not have held conceptions above Tiphereth. They may have obtained a glimpse of the Sun as Ruler of the Elements. About 8875 B.C., Horus would be manifest through Cancer, as the Beetle, and the summit of Human consciousness would be lowered. Thus the age would seem one of retrogression, until Horus, dipping down into Yesod, re-ascended under the Moon’s Influence thus entering Gemini. This seems indicated in the Tarot Trump “The Moon” where we notice the Beetle coming up from the Pool beneath the Moon. About 6720 B.C. He entered Gemini and appeared as one of the Twins. Consciousness would balance that of the Leo period, and tend to ascend to Tiphereth. In 4565 B.C. Horus entered Taurus, appearing as a Calf. Moses seemed to consider the worship of the Calf a retrogression, and we see that the Path of Taurus is again below Tiphereth. In 2410 B.C. we find Him appearing in Aries, as the Lamb. This represented a distinct rise in the Race Consciousness, which however took on the Strong but Severe aspect of Geburah. This period was a Natural One, for the Constellation Aries, would coincide with the Sign of Aries in the Earth’s Aura or Elliptic. This conflicting Time Cycles would be reconciled. Then, in 255 B.C. we find him as the Fish, the Path balancing that of Aries, and having the Influence of Mercy predominating. Thus it was till 1900 A.D. when He appeared to enter Aquarius. But what a startling change. Suddenly we find Him on a Path uniting the Supernals of Wisdom and Understanding, and Their direct Influence made possible in the Minds of the Race. Not since the previous Golden Age 25000 years ago had the Influence of this Path been felt. No wonder men looked to the Sun as the Father, and even in the Pisces period only understood the lower Aspect of Jupiter. Once again in this Aeon we are able to recognize the Great Mother of the Stars, and to discover the Secret of the Lost Father.

There is also a Trinitarian Cycle of Father, Mother, Child, running parallel, so to speak, with this Tradition of the Evercoming Horus. It is the Natural Formula of Isis, Osiris, Horus, and is of Solar Origin. From 2419 B.C. to 255 B.C. Isis the Mother was said to be the Predominant Aspect of the Trinity. Hers was the Office of Nature, She presided over the Natural opening of the Great and Little Years which both coincided. Then Osiris, Dead and Re-Arisen, was the predominant object of Worship till 1900 A.D., and self-sacrifice and Renunciation were the principal exoteric formulae. In this present Cycle Horus is doubly pre-dominant, so we see Him in his Dual Nature as Horus-Harpocrates.

It is also interesting to note the character of Horus as Apophis the Avenger. The Isis, Osiris, Horus arrangement is quite the natural one for the course of events. Isis (The Moon) having taken the place of the Great Mother Nuit. But what of the Formula IAO, as Isis, Apophis, Osiris? If we make a list of several repetitions of the series thus:

Isis
Osiris
Horus
Isis
Osiris
Horus
Isis
etc.

and trace them back, we find the order Isis, Horus, Osiris, etc.; or Isis, Apophis, Osiris. Horus appears as the avenger Apophis to those who try to GO BACK, or retrogress. He has to destroy them in order that they may be renewed. But as long as we go forward, we travel with the Ever Coming Son, who is after all our Destiny, since He is within each of us as the True Urge of our Being. This, then, is the secret of the Way of the TAO; step boldly out on the Path of Destiny, having aligned the personal with the Divine Will, and thus prepared oneselves for the acceptance of that Destiny. Keep ahead of the urge from behind, and it will not fret us.

Then we become Free, Goers, Doing the Will of God upon Earth, Ever-Coming Sons of God.

But if we attempt to lag behind to carry out some personal whims and wishes, Destiny catches up with us and forces us on. To those who willfully turn back and seek to avoid cooperating with the Divine Plan, Horus is the Great Avenger. Has he not said “I am a God of War and of Vengeance. I will deal hardly with them.”

Thus at his Coming in 1904 he found the Race in a state of definite retrogression. “Civilization” met him as he advanced in triumph, and millions fell, without understanding what was happening. He still drives ahead in His Chariot, and millions more will feel his Force and Fire, until the Race recognizes that it must right about face, and cheer the Conquering Hero on. Then we shall have Peace and Rejoicing, and the Stern Warrior will seem as the Gentlest Child.