These are the first, speculative rough drafts for an idea I had to create cards that represent the pieces from Enochian Chess, also called Rosicrucian Chess, as described in the material of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
These cards might be decorated with images in the open space of each card by various artists, or a set might be produced using illustrations by just one artist interpreting them all. I suppose cards could be used for some, as yet, unknown card game if they had uniform backs. But primarily, I think, these would be printed with sides mirrored and placed in stands, so they were held upright, and used as pieces on an Enochian Tablet for a proper game, or divination.
These five cards represent the four elemental Kings along with the extra Ptah piece which is used only in divination. Each displays the flashing colour and attribution of the corresponding element, Tarot correspondence where appropriate, a glyph showing which chess rank it is, and the name of the piece in Latin and Coptic characters.
“In this way, Thrones became described as various types of fiery wheels in relation to their function in the chariot of God, as in Ezekiel 1: 15—20: Now as I beheld the living creates, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the color of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Withersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.”
“In this way, Thrones became described as various types of fiery wheels in relation to their function in the chariot of God, as in Ezekiel 1: 15–20:
Now as I beheld the living creates, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the color of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Withersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” [via]
“Why is there such a split between science and religion? Was it always this way? As children, were we taught that this is the proper way of the world? Rupert Sheldrake and Matthew Fox discuss these issues in a fascinating talk in Part 2 of Accessing the Mystic.”
“The whole human Ego then being in a state of theurgic excitation the BAIE (spirit) descended and the whole being became a luminous KHOU or Shining Body of super-human potency, the Augoeides of the Greek Mystics.”
“The whole human Ego then being in a state of theurgic excitation the BAIE (spirit) descended and the whole being became a luminous KHOU or Shining Body of super-human potency, the Augoeides of the Greek Mystics.” [via]
“Proclus in Timaeus book v., page 330 says, speaking of the BAIE, Spirit: ‘Her seeds are hurled into the realms of generation; and she must purify herself from circumjacent fluctuations of matter. For she contains two-fold powers, one leading to generation the other from generation to true being. The one leads her round the Genesiurgic, the other round the intellectual circle.’”
“Proclus in Timæus book v., page 330 says, speaking of the BAIE, Spirit:
‘Her seeds are hurled into the realms of generation; and she must purify herself from circumjacent fluctuations of matter. For she contains two-fold powers, one leading to generation the other from generation to true being. The one leads her round the Genesiurgic, the other round the intellectual circle.’” [via]
“The inward development which the second degree symbolizes is typified by the lowering of the triangular flap of the apron upon the rectangular portion below. This is equivalent to the rite of Confirmation in the Christian Churches. It denotes ‘the progress we have made in the science,’ or in other words it indicates that the higher nature of the man, symbolized by the trinity of spirit, has descended into and is now permeating his lower nature.”
“The inward development which the second degree symbolizes is typified by the lowering of the triangular flap of the apron upon the rectangular portion below. This is equivalent to the rite of Confirmation in the Christian Churches. It denotes ‘the progress we have made in the science,’ or in other words it indicates that the higher nature of the man, symbolized by the trinity of spirit, has descended into and is now permeating his lower nature.” [via]
Merkaba, also spelled Merkabah, is the divine light vehicle allegedly used by ascended masters to connect with and reach those in tune with the higher realms. “Mer” means Light. “Ka” means Spirit. “Ba” means Body. Mer-Ka-Ba means the spirit/body surrounded by counter-rotating fields of light, (wheels within wheels), spirals of energy as in DNA, which transports spirit/body from one dimension to another.”
Images of your ritual or ritual space, images of sigils or tools, showing off your own library or special volume from the restricted stacks, sacred spaces and places, esoteric artefacts and installations, inspired paintings and people — these and much more are part of the culture and practice of magick.
“But, in the advanced degree of M.M. the answer is that he comes ‘From the East,’ for by this time the Mason is supposed to have so enlarged his knowledge as to realize that the primal source of life is not in the ‘West,’ not in this world; that existence upon this planet is but a transitory sojourn, spent in search of ‘the genuine secrets,’ the ultimate realities, of life; and that as the spirit of man must return to God who gave it, so he is now returning from this temporary world of ‘substituted secrets’ to the ‘East’ from which he originally came.”
“But, in the advanced degree of M.M. the answer is that he comes ‘From the East,’ for by this time the Mason is supposed to have so enlarged his knowledge as to realize that the primal source of life is not in the ‘West,’ not in this world; that existence upon this planet is but a transitory sojourn, spent in search of ‘the genuine secrets,’ the ultimate realities, of life; and that as the spirit of man must return to God who gave it, so he is now returning from this temporary world of ‘substituted secrets’ to the ‘East’ from which he originally came.” [via]
“Many, so many, were ye to make one Womanhood— A thing of fire and flesh, of wine and glory and blood, In whose rose-orient texture a golden light is spun, A gossamer scheme of love, as water in the sun Flecked by wonderful bars, most delicately crossed, Worked into wedded beauties, flickering, never lost— That is the spirit of love, incarnate in your flesh! Your bodies had wearied me, but your passion was ever fresh: You were many indeed, but your love for me was one.”
“Many, so many, were ye to make one Womanhood—
A thing of fire and flesh, of wine and glory and blood,
In whose rose-orient texture a golden light is spun,
A gossamer scheme of love, as water in the sun
Flecked by wonderful bars, most delicately crossed,
Worked into wedded beauties, flickering, never lost—
That is the spirit of love, incarnate in your flesh!
Your bodies had wearied me, but your passion was ever fresh:
You were many indeed, but your love for me was one.” [via]
“Our parents answer jesting Pilate so. I am the meanest servant of the Christ: But, were I heathen, cannibal, profane, My cruel spirit had not sacrificed My children to this Moloch.”
“Our parents answer jesting Pilate so.
I am the meanest servant of the Christ:
But, were I heathen, cannibal, profane,
My cruel spirit had not sacrificed
My children to this Moloch.” [via]
“Where am I? Seven days my spirit fell, Down, down the whirlpools and the gulfs of hell: Seven days a corpse lay desolate—at last Back drew the spirit and the soul aghast To animate that clay—O horrible! The resurrection pang is hardly past. Yet in awhile I stumbled to my feet To flee—no nightmare could be worse to meet. And, spite of that, I knew some deadlier trap Some worm more poisonous would set—mayhap!”
“Where am I? Seven days my spirit fell,
Down, down the whirlpools and the gulfs of hell:
Seven days a corpse lay desolate—at last
Back drew the spirit and the soul aghast
To animate that clay—O horrible!
The resurrection pang is hardly past.
Yet in awhile I stumbled to my feet
To flee—no nightmare could be worse to meet.
And, spite of that, I knew some deadlier trap
Some worm more poisonous would set—mayhap!” [via]
“Then, my spirit knew her For One beyond all song—my poor heart turned: Then, ‘tis no wonder. And my passion burned Mightier yet than ever. To renew her Venom from those pure eyes? And yet I yearned. Still, I stepped onward. Credit me so far! The harlot had my soul: my will, the star!”
“Then, my spirit knew her
For One beyond all song8—my poor heart turned:
Then, ‘tis no wonder. And my passion burned
Mightier yet than ever. To renew her
Venom from those pure eyes? And yet I yearned.
Still, I stepped onward. Credit me so far!
The harlot had my soul: my will, the star!” [via]
Note by Aleister Crowley to this text: 8. The “Higher Self.”
“Night came upon me thus—a wizard hand Grasping with silence the reluctant land. Through night I clomb—behind me grew the light Reflected in the portal of the night. I reached the crest at dawn—pallid I stand, Uncomprehending of the sudden sight. The river and the bridge! The river flows, Tears of young orphans for its limpid woes. The red bridge quivers—how my spirit starts, Its seeming glory built of widows’ hearts! And yet I could disdain it—heaven knows I had no dear ones for their counterparts.
“Night came upon me thus—a wizard hand
Grasping with silence the reluctant land.
Through night I clomb—behind me grew the light
Reflected in the portal of the night.
I reached the crest at dawn—pallid I stand,
Uncomprehending of the sudden sight.
The river and the bridge! The river flows,
Tears of young orphans for its limpid woes.
The red bridge quivers—how my spirit starts,
Its seeming glory built of widows’ hearts!
And yet I could disdain it—heaven knows
I had no dear ones for their counterparts.” [via]
Anthology Project The benefit anthology project helps promote newer works in the Western Esoteric Tradition to the audience of the Hermetic Library and beyond
