776 1/2 - Magical Powers & mystical States
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I was perusing my copy of 776 1/2 and I noticed some supplemental material in the table numbered 16 (Col. XLV from 777 revised)
It concernes the Alchemical associations with the lines devoted to the paths corresponding to the signs of the Zodiac and those of the Sun and the Moon. The Sun and Moon (lines 13 and 30) are identified with the White and Red tinctures, respectively. This is clear. The Zodiacal lines are associated with the stages of the Alchemical process. My question is, in what order are the steps to be taken? Not, I assume, in the order they appear in the table in question.
Here they are:
15 Alchemical Disolution (Heh - Aquarius - The Star)
16 Alchemical Congelation (Vav - Taurus - The Hierophant)
17 Alchemical Fixation (Zayin - Gemini - The Lovers)
18 Alchemical Separation (Cheth - Cancer - The Chariot)
19 Alchemical Digestion (Teth - Leo - Lust)
20 Alchemical Distillation (Yod - Virgo - The Hermit)
22 Alchemical Sublimation (Lamed - Libra - Adjustment)
24 Alchemical Putrefaction (Nun - Scorpio - Death)
25 Alchemical Incineration (Samekh - Sagittarius - Art)
26 Alchemical Fermentation (A'ayin - Capricorn - The Devil)
28 Alchemical Calcination (Tzaddi - Aries - The Emperor)
29 Alchemical Multiplication (Qoph - Pisces - The Moon)Also, aren't the other planets associated with aspects of the Alchemical process? What would their associations be?
Dan
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@ar said
"My question is, in what order are the steps to be taken? Not, I assume, in the order they appear in the table in question."
Good question. I have only a (probably unsatisfying) answer.
These are pretty jumbled. The usual order recommended doesn't have a lot to do with the sequence, though in places it does. The problem is that this 12-fold division is only one of several models from Medieval times - of 12 steps or 7 or 8 or 6 or some other number, and the sequences are often different. The assignment is worthwhile for the purposes of the table, but one would more or less need already to have one's instruction set (one's method of working) before these listings would be much use.
Temple of Thelema's First Order (I can only say so much here) is based on an alchemical sequence that seems to break down best into 6 steps, and they don't conveniently follow these labels. (It's more like these 12 labels are specific stages that weave in and out the 6 main process steps.) The sequence of which I speak is encoded, step-by-step, in the 0° initiation and then serves as the basis for the work of the later degrees. For example, the first three stages are Discovering the First Matter, the Earth Working, and the Air Working. (That's about as far as I should go, probably.) As you can see, this is a different sequence then the other terms altogether.
Those who have Paul Foster Case's lesson set titled The Great Work will be in a much better place to apply this information about the 12 processes than most people.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"The problem is that this 12-fold division is only one of several models from Medieval times - of 12 steps or 7 or 8 or 6 or some other number, and the sequences are often different. The assignment is worthwhile for the purposes of the table, but one would more or less need already to have one's instruction set (one's method of working) before these listings would be much use."
Could you recommend a resource, online or otherwise, that assigns 12 stages to the signs of the zodiac?
@Jim Eshelman said
"Temple of Thelema's First Order ... is based on an alchemical sequence that seems to break down best into 6 steps, and they don't conveniently follow these labels. (It's more like these 12 labels are specific stages that weave in and out the 6 main process steps.) The sequence of which I speak is encoded, step-by-step, in the 0° initiation and then serves as the basis for the work of the later degrees. For example, the first three stages are Discovering the First Matter, the Earth Working, and the Air Working. (That's about as far as I should go, probably.) As you can see, this is a different sequence then the other terms altogether."
I'm right with you here, except for "these 12 labels are specific stages that weave in and out the 6 main process steps.". I suppose I'll have to get a bit farther along to see this assignent.
@Jim Eshelman said
"Those who have Paul Foster Case's lesson set titled The Great Work will be in a much better place to apply this information about the 12 processes than most people."
Is this available anywhere? I'd love to have a look at it.
Dan
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@ar said
"Could you recommend a resource, online or otherwise, that assigns 12 stages to the signs of the zodiac?"
No. The only sources I know for this are unpublished, or only published confidentially for limited audiences.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Those who have Paul Foster Case's lesson set titled The Great Work will be in a much better place to apply this information about the 12 processes than most people."Is this available anywhere? I'd love to have a look at it."
It's only legally available as a BOTA course obtainable in the sixth year of their correspondence lessons.