Abrac
I'm not so sure now about the panels referring to the three sephiroth on the left-hand side, though it seemed like a good idea at the time. It seems a bit forced, and there's something else that works a lot better. Earlier in this thread I quoted from Waite's "Allocution of the 5 = 6 Grade" in Gilbert's Hermetic Papers of A. E. Waite; it's here, I believe, the true meaning is found, or at least truer.
No date is given but it's from the Independent and Rectified Rite period of 1903-1914. Waite is addressing newly initiated Adepts into the Adeptus Minor grade, i.e., the first grade of the Second Order (Tiphareth). Woven throughout are references to all three grades of Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major (Geburah) and Adeptus Exemptus (Chesed). Especially interesting are the comments he makes concerning Water, Blood and Spirit and a reference to comments made by the Chief Adept in the GD Adeptus Minor initiation. First, Waite's comment:
Here are the words of the Chief Adept from the ritual. I'm quoting the second part of his verscicle first to be consistent with the order in which Waite refers to them:
The Chief Adept refers to the eternal forces of mercy and severity; between these is the equilibrium on which the universe depends. This is the "Triad in the Archetype" Waite refers to. The analog of this is the Triad in humanity—Water, Blood and Spirit or the psychic part, the animal part and the Divine part. The Chief Adept refers to the reconciliation of the two forces as the "key of life." Waite illustrates this in Temperance where the reconciliation of the psychic and material natures brings about a "rebirth."
Waite also mentions mystical death and resurrection as part of the Chief Adept's versicles. He calls them "the Greater Mysteries which are the crown of the crucified life." This refers to Adeptus Major (death—or more accurately, burial) and Adeptus Exemptus (resurrection).
The Chief Adept:
It seems to me Waite is either hinting at what is illustrated in the Magician or describing something which he would later have Pamela illustrate in that card. All the elements are there; it's possible the Magician is the resurrected Exempt Adept.
No date is given but it's from the Independent and Rectified Rite period of 1903-1914. Waite is addressing newly initiated Adepts into the Adeptus Minor grade, i.e., the first grade of the Second Order (Tiphareth). Woven throughout are references to all three grades of Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major (Geburah) and Adeptus Exemptus (Chesed). Especially interesting are the comments he makes concerning Water, Blood and Spirit and a reference to comments made by the Chief Adept in the GD Adeptus Minor initiation. First, Waite's comment:
"Think for a moment of that which is signified by the versicles of the Chief Adept when the stigmata are impressed upon him [the Candidate]. They refer to the Triad in the Archetype, and because of the correspondence between things above and below they refer also to the Triad in humanity; to the Spirit, which is the Divine part; to the Water which is the psychic part; to the Blood, which is the life in Nephesh, the animal part; and in fine to mystical death and resurrection, or the Greater Mysteries which are the crown of the crucified life."
Here are the words of the Chief Adept from the ritual. I'm quoting the second part of his verscicle first to be consistent with the order in which Waite refers to them:
"Quit then this tomb, O Aspirant, with thine arms crossed upon thy breast, bearing in thy right hand the crook of mercy and in thy left the scourge of severity, the emblems of those eternal forces betwixt which the equilibrium of the universe dependeth; those forces whose reconciliation is the key of life, whose separation is evil and death."
The Chief Adept refers to the eternal forces of mercy and severity; between these is the equilibrium on which the universe depends. This is the "Triad in the Archetype" Waite refers to. The analog of this is the Triad in humanity—Water, Blood and Spirit or the psychic part, the animal part and the Divine part. The Chief Adept refers to the reconciliation of the two forces as the "key of life." Waite illustrates this in Temperance where the reconciliation of the psychic and material natures brings about a "rebirth."
Waite also mentions mystical death and resurrection as part of the Chief Adept's versicles. He calls them "the Greater Mysteries which are the crown of the crucified life." This refers to Adeptus Major (death—or more accurately, burial) and Adeptus Exemptus (resurrection).
The Chief Adept:
"Buried with that light in a mystical death, rising again in a mystical resurrection, cleansed and purified through Him our master, O brother of the Cross and the Rose."
It seems to me Waite is either hinting at what is illustrated in the Magician or describing something which he would later have Pamela illustrate in that card. All the elements are there; it's possible the Magician is the resurrected Exempt Adept.