Final decision in respect of the past, new current in respect of the future; always represents the taking of a definite step.
ש
ATU XX
ATU XX The Aeon
The Spirit of the Primal Fire
The Aeon
The Spirit of the Primal Fire
In this card it has been necessary to depart completely from the tradition of the cards, in order to carry on that tradition.
The old card was called The Angel: or, The Last Judgment. It represented an Angel or Messenger blowing a trumpet, attached to which was a flag, bearing the symbol of the Aeon of Osiris. Below him the graves were opening, the dead rising up. There were three of them. The central one had his hands raised with right angles at the elbows and shoulders, so as to form the letter Shin, which refers to Fire. The card therefore represented the destruction of the world by Fire. This was accomplished in the year of the vulgar era 1904, when the fiery god Horus took the place of the airy god Osiris in the East as Hierophant (see Atu V). At the beginning, then, of this new Aeon, it is fit to exhibit the message of that angel who brought the news of the new Aeon to earth. The new card is thus of necessity an adaptation of the Stélé of Revealing.
Around the top of the card is the body of Nuith, the star-goddess, who is the category of unlimited possibility; her mate is Hadit, the ubiquitous point-of-view, the only philosophically tenable conception of Reality. He is represented by a globe of fire, representing eternal energy; winged, to show his power of Going. As a result of the marriage of these two, the child Horus is born. He is, however, known under his special name, Heru-ra-ha. A double god; his extroverted form is Ra-hoor-khuit; and his passive or introverted form Hoor-pa kraat. (See Atu 0, the Formula of Tetragrammaton). He is also solar in character, and is therefore shown coming forth in golden light.
The whole of this symbolism is thoroughly explained in the Book of the Law.
It should, by the way, be noted that the name Heru is identical with Hru, who is the great Angel set over the Tarot. This new Tarot may therefore be regarded as a series of illustrations to the Book of the Law; the doctrine of that Book is everywhere implicit.
At the bottom of the card we see the letter Shin itself in a form suggestive of a flower; the three Yods are occupied by three human figures arising to partake in the Essence of the new Aeon. Behind this letter is a symbolic representation of the Sign of Libra; this is the forth-shadowing of the Aeon which is to follow this present one, presumably in about 2,000 years - "the fall of the Great Equinox; when Hrumachis shall arise and the double-wanded one assume my throne and place". The present Aeon is too young to give a more definite representation of this future event. But in this connection attention must be drawn to the figure of Ra-hoor-khuit: "I am the Lord of the Double Wand of Power; the wand of the Force of Coph Nia; but my left hand is empty, for I have crushed an Universe; & nought remains". There are many other details with regard to the Lord of the Aeon which should be studied in the Book of the Law.
It is also important to study very thoroughly, and meditate upon, this Book, in order to appreciate the spiritual, moral, and material events which have marked the catastrophic transition from the Aeon of Osiris. The time for the birth of an Aeon seems to be indicated by great concentration of political power with the accompanying improvements in the means of travel and communication, with a general advance in philosophy and science, with a general need of consolidation in religious thought. It is very instructive to compare the events of the five hundred years preceding and following the crisis of approximately 2,000 years ago, with those of similar periods centred in 1904 of the old era. It is a thought far from comforting to the present generation, that 500 years of Dark Ages are likely to be upon us. But, if the analogy holds, that is the case. Fortunately, today we have brighter torches and more torch-bearers.
The old card was called The Angel: or, The Last Judgment. It represented an Angel or Messenger blowing a trumpet, attached to which was a flag, bearing the symbol of the Aeon of Osiris. Below him the graves were opening, the dead rising up. There were three of them. The central one had his hands raised with right angles at the elbows and shoulders, so as to form the letter Shin, which refers to Fire. The card therefore represented the destruction of the world by Fire. This was accomplished in the year of the vulgar era 1904, when the fiery god Horus took the place of the airy god Osiris in the East as Hierophant (see Atu V). At the beginning, then, of this new Aeon, it is fit to exhibit the message of that angel who brought the news of the new Aeon to earth. The new card is thus of necessity an adaptation of the Stélé of Revealing.
Around the top of the card is the body of Nuith, the star-goddess, who is the category of unlimited possibility; her mate is Hadit, the ubiquitous point-of-view, the only philosophically tenable conception of Reality. He is represented by a globe of fire, representing eternal energy; winged, to show his power of Going. As a result of the marriage of these two, the child Horus is born. He is, however, known under his special name, Heru-ra-ha. A double god; his extroverted form is Ra-hoor-khuit; and his passive or introverted form Hoor-pa kraat. (See Atu 0, the Formula of Tetragrammaton). He is also solar in character, and is therefore shown coming forth in golden light.
The whole of this symbolism is thoroughly explained in the Book of the Law.
It should, by the way, be noted that the name Heru is identical with Hru, who is the great Angel set over the Tarot. This new Tarot may therefore be regarded as a series of illustrations to the Book of the Law; the doctrine of that Book is everywhere implicit.
At the bottom of the card we see the letter Shin itself in a form suggestive of a flower; the three Yods are occupied by three human figures arising to partake in the Essence of the new Aeon. Behind this letter is a symbolic representation of the Sign of Libra; this is the forth-shadowing of the Aeon which is to follow this present one, presumably in about 2,000 years - "the fall of the Great Equinox; when Hrumachis shall arise and the double-wanded one assume my throne and place". The present Aeon is too young to give a more definite representation of this future event. But in this connection attention must be drawn to the figure of Ra-hoor-khuit: "I am the Lord of the Double Wand of Power; the wand of the Force of Coph Nia; but my left hand is empty, for I have crushed an Universe; & nought remains". There are many other details with regard to the Lord of the Aeon which should be studied in the Book of the Law.
It is also important to study very thoroughly, and meditate upon, this Book, in order to appreciate the spiritual, moral, and material events which have marked the catastrophic transition from the Aeon of Osiris. The time for the birth of an Aeon seems to be indicated by great concentration of political power with the accompanying improvements in the means of travel and communication, with a general advance in philosophy and science, with a general need of consolidation in religious thought. It is very instructive to compare the events of the five hundred years preceding and following the crisis of approximately 2,000 years ago, with those of similar periods centred in 1904 of the old era. It is a thought far from comforting to the present generation, that 500 years of Dark Ages are likely to be upon us. But, if the analogy holds, that is the case. Fortunately, today we have brighter torches and more torch-bearers.
| Also see ATU XX: The Aeon according to: | ||||
| Tarot de Marseilles (Gebelin) | Eliphas Levi | Golden Dawn (Regardie) | Aleister Crowley | Frater Achad |
777 for key 31
I
Key Scale 31
II
Hebrew Names of Numbers and Letters Shin
III
English of Col. II. Tooth
VI
The Heavens of Assiah Ash
VII
English of Col. VI. Fire
X
Mystic Numbers of the Sephiroth 496
XI
Elements (with their Planetary Rulers) Hot and Dry Fire
XII
The Tree of Life Pathjoins 8–10
XIII
The Paths of the Sepher Yetzirah Perpetual I.
XIV
General Attribution of Tarot The Angel or Last Judgement — [Wands] Kings or Knights.
XV
The King Scale of Colour (y) Glowing orange scarlet
XVI
The Queen Scale of Colour (h) Vermillion
XVII
The Emperor Scale of Colour (v) Scarlet, flecked gold
XVIII
The Empress Scale of Colour (#) Vermillion flecked crimson & emerald
XIX
Selection of Egyptian Gods Thoum-Aesh-Neith, Mau, Kabeshunt, Horus, Tarpesheth.
XX
Complete Practical Attribution of Egyptian Gods Mau
XXI
The Perfected Man [Serqet—the Teeth.] As 6.
XXII
Small selection of Hindu Deities Surya (as !)
XXIII
The Forty Buddhist Meditations Fire K
XXIV
Certain of the Hindu and Buddhist Results Agni-Bhawana
XXXIV
Some Greek Gods Hades
XXXV
Some Roman Gods Apollo [[Ops]]
XXXVI
Selection of Christian Gods (10); Apostles (12); Evangelists (4) and Churches of Asia (7). Mark
XXXVIII
Animals, Real and Imaginary. Lion (Cherub of B)
XXXIX
Plants, Real and Imaginary Red Poppy, Hibiscus, Nettle
XL
Precious Stones Fire Opal
XLI
Magical Weapons The Lamen or Bow and Arrow
XLII
Perfumes Olibanum, all Fiery Odours
XLIV
Mineral Drugs Nitrates
XLV
Magical Powers [Western Mysticism] Evocation, Pyromancy
XLVI
System of Taoism Kan
XLIX
Lineal Figures of the Planets, &c., and Geomany Those of Fire y Triplicity
L
Transcendental Morality. [10 Virtues (1-10), 7 Sins (Planets), 4 Magick Powers (Elements).] Velle
LI.II
Numeration of Col. LI. 900
LI.III
English equivalent of Col. LI. Sh
LIII
The Greek Alphabet ϡ
LIV
The Letters of the Name ו
LV
The Elements and Senses Fire, Sight
LVI
The Four Rivers Pison
LVII
The Four Quarters Darom
LVIII
Supereme Elemental Kings Ohooohatan
LIX
Archangels of the Quarters Michael
LX
The Rulers of the Elements Seraph
LXI
Angels of the elements Aral
LXII
Kings of the Elemental Spirits Djin
LXIII
The Four Worlds Atziluth, Archetypal World
LXIV
Secret Names of the Four Words Aub
LXV
Secret Numbers corresponding 72
LXVII
The Parts of the Soul Chiah
LXVIII
The Demon Kings Paimon
LXIX
The Alchemical Elements Paimon
LXX
Attribution of Pentagram. Right Lower Point
LXXI
The Court Cards of the Tarot, with the Spheres of their Celestial Dominion—Wands The Lord of the Flame and the Lightning. The King of the Spirits of Fire. Rules 20° h to 20° i, including part of Hercules.
LXXII
The Court Cards of the Tarot, with the Spheres of their Celestial Dominion—Cups The Lord of the Waves and the Waters. The King of the Hosts of the Sea. 20° k to 20° l, including most of Pegasus.
LXXIII
The Court Cards of the Tarot, with the Spheres of their Celestial Dominion—Swords. The Lord of the Winds and the Breezes. The King of the Spirits of Air. 20° b to 20° c
LXXIV
The Court Cards of the Tarot, with the Spheres of their Celestial Dominion—Pantacles. The Lord of the Wide and Fertile Land. The King of the Spirits of Earth. 20° e to 20° f
LXXV
The Five Elements (Tatwas) Agni or Tejas—the Red Triangle
LXXVI
The Five Skandhas Sañña
CLXXV
Hebrew Letters ש
CLXXVI
Numerical Value of Col. CLXXV. 300
CLXXIX
Numbers printed on Tarot Trumps 20
CLXXX
Title of Tarot Trumps The Spirit of the Primal Fire.
CLXXXI
Correct Design of Tarot Trumps Israfel blowing the Last Trumpet. The dead arising from their tombs *
CLXXXII
The Human Body Organs of Circulation
CLXXXIII
Legendary Orders of Being Salamanders
CLXXXIV
Numeration of Arabic Alphabet 300
CLXXXV
Numeration of Greek Alphabet 900
CLXXXVI
Diseases (Typical) Fever
CLXXXVIII
The Body Blood
CLXXXIX
Bodily Functions Moving
CXC
Bodily Functions Moving
CXCI
The Four Noble Truths (Buddhism) Noble Eight-fold Path