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Arcane#9: The HermitIn this arcane we find a moon rises in the waters of life.
In the middle section, an ancient hermit in the act of going forward, holding in his left hand the lamp which lights the path. It is the lamp of Hermes, wisdom. The staff of the patriarchs which is in his right hand, supports him. This represents the spinal column with its seven churches.
The wise and prudent hermit is wrapped in the protective robe of Apollonius which symbolizes prudence.
Behind him is found the palm of victory.
In the upper section is a sun which illuminates with three rays, indicating the three primary forces. It descends to unite with the moon. The mood ascends and the sun descends, which indicates that we need to transform the moon into the sun by means of transmutation; to transform with the arcane A.Z.F., the lunar bodies into solar bodies.
Arcane number 9 clearly indicates the 9 circles of the atomic infernos of nature and the 9 spheres of the 9 heavens. This arcane also indicates the 9 planets represented in the 9 spheres of the planet earth.
The initiate has to descend to the 9 submerged spheres to later win the 9 heavens which correspond to each planet.
The Esoteric Meaning of the Arcane Arcane Number 9 is the hermit, solitude. This arcane in its more elevated form is the ninth sphere, "sex."
In the ancient temples the descent to the ninth sphere was the greatest test for the supreme dignity of the hierophant. Hermes, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Dante and many other great initiates had to pass through the great test; descend to the ninth sphere to work with fire and water - origin of worlds, beasts men and gods. Every true white initiation begins there.
In the ninth sphere or ninth layer of the earth, in the center of the earth, in the very heart of the earth, the sign of the initiate is found shining. This sign has the shape of an eight. The sign of the infinite is the holy eight. The heart, brain and sex of the genie of the earth is found represented in this sign. The secret name of this genie is Changam.
The Zohar tells us emphatically that in the depth of the abyss lives Adam-Protoplastos, the differentiating principle of souls. We have to struggle against that principle in a fight to the death. The battle is terrifying. Brain against sex, sex against brain and what is most terrible and most painful: that of heart against heart.
It is obvious that all the forces revolve upon the base of the holy eight, in the human being. He who wants to enter the City of the Nine doors mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita must resolve to descend to the lit forge of Vulcan.
In the human organism the ninth sphere is sex; he who wants to achieve self realization must descend to the ninth sphere to work with fire and water to arrive at the second birth.
In the ninth sphere the lit forge of Vulcan (sex) is found. It is there where Mars descends to temper his flaming sword once more and conquer the heart of Venus (the Venusian initation). Hercules descends to clean the Augean stables (the lower animal depths) and Perseus to cut off the head of Medusa (the psychological "I" or earthly Adam) with his flaming sword, and that head covered with serpents, the esoteric student has to deliver to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.
Ecerpt from "The Initiatic Path in the Arcanes of Tarot and Kabbalah"
by Samael Aun Weor
