DE SALADO
3.1 Introducción
Lovers’ Triad. Liber 194 – ‘The next grade, that which lies between the Fifth and Sixth Degrees, is called the Senate. This is the first of the governing bodies, properly speaking, and here we begin to insist upon Renunciation. For within this body is the Electoral College of the O.T.O.’
KNIGHT OF WANDS This card shows a knight in full armour. His helmet is crested with the upper torso of a winged horse. A large and flaming wand is held in his left hand, red and billowing, whilst his right pulls tight the reins of his steed.
He wears a robe of bright red, that falls down to join a ferocious blaze at the floor. A ferocious wind blows his beard and helmet’s decoration outward, along with the horses mane and tail, giving the impression of fierce combustion. The steed is of dark brown, with red and gold saddling, with raised legs, as if making to jump. This card is Fire of Fire, the pure form of the first letter of Tetragrammaton, the Yod (י) of הוהי. It is pure energy, that must be harnessed productively; left alone it is unbalanced force of the worst kind. The Knight of Wands could be called a ‘long shot’, or an endeavour that must be won through at the first stake. He rules the heavens from the 21° of Scorpio to the 20° of Sagittarius.
KNOCKS The knocks, or knells, are a form of numerical elaboration used in ceremonial magick. It is quite simply done with a bell, staff, clapping the hands or any other primitive rhythmic instrument – this is generically termed as the ‘battery’.
They are interpreted in terms of the Tree of Life, and the Secondary Reflections of the Elements especially. Thus for a ceremonial working of the nature of Element of Fire, we would have seven knocks, as seven is the number of Netzach; and again for a Water working eight knocks. Again these may be permuted. The knock for Earth, number ten on the Tree, could be 1 – 22 – 333 – 4444, that is ten knocks in total, increasing in increments of one; the hyphen represents a small space, and each numeral represents one knock, the employment of varying digits being simply a visual aid. Spirit is normally knocked as 1 – 4444, showing its governance over the four lesser Elements, with five knocks in total. Obviously as the number of knocks increases, the possible combinations exponentiate beyond intelligible analysis, so normally eleven is the maximum.
KO עכ The 170th Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 90. ‘Palm’ and ‘eye’. The palm conceals the complexities of the subjective universe, whilst the eye reveals the obvious realities of the objective one. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Devil. It has the meanings of ‘to be dark’, ‘ugly’ and ‘an excited serpent’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Capricorn. These symbols are opposites.
KO
t
The 49th Hexagram of the I Ching. ‘Revolution’ and ‘change’. Water of Sun. The Image is of a leopard changing its coat to that of a tiger (black to golden); the sun at dusk over the ocean; fire boiling water from below;the power of water balancing and checking the power of fire; a young daughter argues with her next oldest sister. The Oracle is to confirm your own, and others, certainty of the I Ching, and other repositories of ancient wisdom; seek the counsel of others before pressing on; avoid haste; make certain others have faith in you first, before taking action; reinforce what change has brought with your heart, as well as your intellect. Expressed as a binary it is either 34 or 17.
KOPPA The 18th letter of the Greek alphabet. It has a value of 90. There is no word value for this letter, nor a lower case. In Liber 777 it is allocated to the 29th Path on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. In most dialects it is not used, except as a numeral, although for all purposes it is transliterated as ‘Q’.
KOU
o
The 44th Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Kau’. Lingam of Air. ‘Coming to meet’. The Image is of heaven and earth in one; wind moving at the foot of the heavens; the eight directions of heaven being compassed by the winds; the road of initiation (Neophyte) that starts off difficult, but becomes gradually easier (towards Adept) due to the help of the master: ‘let me take your hand, brother, for the first step is hard’. The Oracle is to be calm in the face of any sudden encounter, to be balanced; the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing; do not sell yourself short; do good in secret, and do not cast your pearls before swine; sacrifice things for a higher plane, that is give up worldly goods to achieve the blissful non-attachment that inevitably follows. Expressed as a binary it is either one or 32.KP פכ The 171st Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 100. ‘Palm’ and ‘mouth’. The palm is a strict and silent system of divination, shrouded in darkness (except for the initiated), whilst the mouth is noisy and gives rise to much arbitrary expression. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Tower. It has the meanings of ‘a palm’, ‘a hand cupped’,
‘something arched’, ‘the crest over the genitals’, ‘glove’ and ‘censer’. It is identical to the spelling of the Hebrew letter Kaph (כ). Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Mars, the former is beneficent and Watery, the latter is malefic and Fiery.
KQ קכ The 173rd Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 120. ‘Palm’ and ‘the back of the head’. The palm reveals the destiny of an individual in a very fixed way, yet the ‘back of the head’ (or more accurately the cerebellum) conceals our present hopes and fears in a most fleeting manner; that is in the cogitations of the subconscious mind. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Moon. It has the meaning of ‘divining through the stars’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Pisces. As the former rules the latter we find much combination of symbolism here.
KR רכ The 174th Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 220. ‘Palm’ and ‘head’. The palm is a gateway to an individual’s macrocosm (if the future in all its possibilities is considered as such), whilst the head, with its five senses, is the portal into the present moment and the microcosm. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Sun. It has the meanings of
‘lamb’, ‘fattened lamb’, ‘meadow’, and ‘a camel’s saddle’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Sol.
Although it may appear like they have a lot in common, actually on the Tree of Life the Sphere of Jupiter is Water and the Sphere of Sol is Air; we find therefore that this Elemental permutation is not harmonious
KRISHNA The Hindu messenger of Vishnu that strives to preach the message of the Bhagavad Gita. He appeared as a charioteer on the battlefield and conversed with King Arjuna. Krishna is the earthly manifestation of ‘existence without form’, he is the tangible symbol of the Indian monist philosophy. Most commonly his name is translated as ‘the black one’, (Arjuna means ‘White one’) but elsewhere as ‘earth’ and ‘existence’, and finally as ‘He who draws unto Him the hearts of His devotees’. He is credited with having orgies, cohorting with daemons, mesmerising crowds of people and dying violently in ethically questionable ways; and in this respect he is identified with Pan, the goat god of the Greeks. We find that the ‘Mystery of Pan’ is the mystery of selflesness and self, and that Crowley allocates it to the ‘Ain Soph Aur’ (see elsewhere) of Qabalah. We make this connection to show that Krishna’s apparent indulgences in massive orgies in no way deplete the fact that he is God in a human body, the divine incarnate. It is only the arbitrary whims of humanity that credit Krishna with outrageous excesses, but from his point of view it makes no difference at all. The fundamental points of dogma in the Bhagavad include the way of ‘action through inaction’ (the crux of the yogic method), the necessity to take part in life, to revel even in warfare (Karma Yoga), the ephemeral nature of all sensory images, and the immortality of the Atman, or Soul. It is a message of pure monotheism, that not only admits the reality of demons and gods, but cleverly uses them to prove its monism. Mentioned in the litany of the Gnostic Saints in Liber 15.
KS סכ The 169th Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 80. ‘Palm’ and ‘prop’. The palm has many sublime and complicated uses (in predicting health, intelligence, romance etc.) whilst the prop has a single and obvious function. The Tarot cards are Fortune and Art. It has the meanings of ‘the throne of God’, ‘to be covered with light’, ‘the full moon’ and
‘cup’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Sagittarius. There is great harmony here as the latter is ruled by the former.
KSh שכ The 175th Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 320. ‘Palm’ and ‘tooth’. A palm is soft and preserves sublime knowledge, whilst a tooth is hard and breaks down mundane food. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Aeon. It has the meanings of ‘to knock’, ‘strike’, ‘move to and fro’, ‘shake’ and ‘confound’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to
KTh תכ The 176th Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 420. ‘Palm’ and ‘tau’. The palm contains a multitude of more or less indecipherable lines and islands and is highly complex, the tau, conversely, is a very straightforward and simple symbol. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Universe. It has the meanings of ‘to pound’, ‘to join closely’, ‘to come in contact’ and ‘image’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds with Jupiter and Saturn/Earth. The two planets can be considered opposites because Jupiter is the ‘great beneficent’ and Saturn is the ‘great malefic’. There is some harmony with the Element of Earth however.
KTz צכ The 172nd Gate of the Sepher Yetzirah. It has a value of 110. ‘Palm’ and ‘fish hook’. A palm is soft and encloses things, whilst a fish hook is hard and penetrates. The Tarot cards are Fortune and The Emperor. It has the meanings of ‘how’, ‘in what manner’ and ‘to curl’. Astrologically this Gate corresponds to Jupiter and Aries. See the 171st Gate KP for an account of the symbolism.
KŪ
R
The 18th Hexagram of the I Ching. ‘Work on what has been spoiled’, some other meanings are ‘arrest of decay’, and ‘renovation’. Earth of Air. The Image is a wind that destroys all the plant life on a mountain. The Oracle is to freely help those in your domestic circle and be considerate; strive to become a person of value rather than success;consider your True Will carefully. Expressed as a binary it is either 25 or 38.
KUAI
n
The 43rd Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Kwái’. ‘Break-through’ and ‘resoluteness’.Water of Lingam. The Image is of a lake ascending to heaven; a cloudburst combined with a river bursting its banks; a sharp sword cutting through a snake; the strong dominating over the cowering inferiors. The Oracle is generally one of pain and discomfort; to attack your enemy but without acting, that is confront him with your heart also; to plan ahead meticulously; demand loyalty; have no fear of magick; ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’; be tyrannical and ruthless, even cruel, with inferior people. Expressed as a binary it is either 32 or one.
KUAN
T
The 20th Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Kwân’. ‘Contemplation’, another meaning is‘view’. Air of Yoni. The Image is of a mighty ruler pondering divine law; a fortress or watchtower upon a mountain; the grass of the earth being bent in the wind; the wind moving over the earth in eight directions. The Oracle is basically to consider your actions; to seek purity, dignity and justice; to consider again your understanding of the True Will in your life;
to examine deeply your own motives. This Hexagram is ‘Big Earth’ as each of the lines of the Earth Trigram are doubled.
Expressed as a binary it is either 15 or 60.
K’UEI
i
The 38th Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Khwei’. ‘Opposition’, some other meanings are ‘complementary alliance of opposites’ and ‘enemies’. Sun of Water. The Image is of fire becoming separated from water; fire bursting up and expanding (volatility) and water descending and contracting (entropy); the sun on an ocean horizon at dawn; fire and water being ever divided, one above the other below. The Oracle is to expect general problems and strife, but potential good subjectively; to take advantage of ambivalent and contradictory situations; to revel in the ironic; expect the unexpected. Epressed as a binary it is either 20 or ten.KUEI MEI
y
The 54th Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Kwei Mei’. ‘The marrying maiden’. Fire of Water. The Image is thunder disturbing the surface of a brilliant and iridescent lake; a young girl under the tutelage and guidance of an older man; the entrance of a wife into the house of her husband. The Oracle is to be patient; be careful not to do anything obviously stupid; employ the crudest measures to achieve your desires, and save until later anything special;do not ‘sell yourself short’; be prepared for hard times with the strictest frugality. Expressed as a binary it is either 52 or 11.
KUN
C
The third Hexagram of the I Ching. Also known as ‘Chun’. ‘Difficulty at the beginning’. Moon of Fire. The Oracle here recommends that you find support, and do nothing alone; to be generous to your allies; expect much heartache, however, if you are betrayed. The Image is thunder and rain filling the atmosphere; a divine dragon stooping into an abyss; a child separating a woman above and a man below. Expressed as a binary it is either 46 or 29.KUNDALINI This is an Sanskrit word meaning ‘serpent power’. According to the yogic method it resides in the Muladhara Chakkra (around the sacral plexus, or base of the spine), and is symbolised as a powerful, sleeping and tightly coiled snake. Through the various practices of kundalini yoga this energy is ‘awakened’ and travels up the spine, and revitalises the seven Chakkras, or Wheels. This branch of yoga is fraught with dangers, and many westerners have been brough into ‘kundalini psychosis’ by its abuse. Even traditionalist yogis warn against it; the Tantric school is perhaps even anathema to orthodox Hindus as they advocate intoxicating drugs, sex, eating meat and fish etc.. Kundalini yoga is the principal weapon of this school, and they have always sought to use sexual energy as a means to enlightenment, a type of
‘spiritual rocket fuel’.
KURGASIAX
k
The Qliphothic Sentinel of Kaph (כ), the eleventh Path on the Tree of Life. Its number is 315 and the name should be ‘intoned imperiously’ in the key of ‘A’ sharp. The sigil is in purple on a bright blue ground rayed with yellow. See Liber 231, Verse 10 – ‘Now then the Father of all issued as a mighty wheel; the Sphinx, and the dog-headedgod, and Typhon, were bound on his circumference.’ The Genii equivalent is ‘Kerugunaviel’:
K
L
LA
٧
The 30th letter of the Arabic alphabet in the esoteric Eastern order, although in the Western it is considered as an elaboration. It is transliterated as ‘LA’, and is the conjuntion of ل LAM and ا ALF. It has a value of 31.LABNIXP LABNIXP The 82nd Enochian Governor. This Angel rules over the region of the Scythian Sea, and resides in the Aire of BAG (28). He has 2630 Servitors under him. This word has a value of 233.
LAETITIA
$
The twelth Geomantic Figure. This is Latin and means ‘joy’, the other meanings are ‘bearded’,‘laughing’, ‘singing’, ‘high tower’, ‘head lifted’, ‘candelabrum’, and ‘high mountain’. It corresponds to Pisces. (Fire = Active, Air = Passive, Water = Passive, Earth = Passive)
LAFCURSIAX
l
The Qliphothic Sentinel of Lamed (ל), the 22nd Path on the Tree of Life. Her number is 671 and her sigil should be painted in pale green on a rich blue ground. She should be called in the key of ‘F’ sharp (upper register). See Liber 231, Verse 11 – ‘Also the lady Maat with her feather and her sword abode to judge the righteous. Forfate was already established.’ The Genii equivalent is ‘Lusanaherandraton’:
L
laidrOM laidrOM The first of the Six Seniors found on the Enochian Watchtower of Earth, Martial in nature. This name is intersected by the 66th, 70th and 73rd Governors. By Gematria it equals 255.
LAM
ل
The 23rd letter of the Arabic alphabet in the Western order, and the twelfth in the Eastern. It is transliterated as‘L’. It has a value of 30 and a word value of 71. On the Tree of Life it is allocated to the 22nd Path. The meaning drawn from the Qoran is ‘Benevolent’. It has the initial form of
ل
.LAMBDA
Λ λ
The twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet. It has a value of 30. Spelt in full Lambda – Alpha – Mu – Beta – Delta – Alpha (ΛAMΒΔA) which has a value of 78. In Liber 777 it is allocated to the 22nd Path on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Lambda is transliterated as ‘L’.LAMED
ל
The twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, having the meaning of ‘ox goad’. It has the value of 30. Spelt in full Lamed – Maim – Daleth (דמל) which totals to 74. It corresponds to the Adjustment Tarot card and the colour blue.Lamed connects the fifth and and sixth Spheres on the Tree of Life, Geburah (הרובג) and Tiphereth (תראפת). Mars acting through Libra upon Sol. Lamed is transliterated as ‘L’.
LAMUS, KING Crowley’s name for himself as depicted in the autobiographical novel Diary of a Drug Fiend. We find also in Article 13 of Liber ATh, 401 – ‘The Abbot or Abbess shall be entirely supported by the Abbey, and shall be provided with a private room, chapel, and bathroom, furnished in the style of King Lamus.’
LAO TZE circa 500 BC The legendary Taoist sage and author of the Tao te ching (pronounced ‘dow – day – jing’), also known as Lao Tzu (pronounced ‘laow – zi’). The title of this book means ‘The Book of the Way and its Power’. His biography is found in the Shih chi of Ssu-ma Ch’ien. According to this he was an associate of Confucius (551 – 479 BC) , and presided over the writings of Chou. He apparently advised Confucius to renounce his wordly designs, and he eventually left home to live as a recluse; however before being allowed to do so, he was asked to crystallise his wisdom in writing, whence came the Tao. He left the pages of history on a water buffalo, into his long sought after retreat, probably in order to attain the ‘higher wisdom’. The Tao is a short, yet profound, and deeply mystical work of 81 chapters. Taosim is still practised in China, and forms a fundamental aspect of the nation’s cultural makeup. The Tao is required reading for Students of the A.·. A.·., and Crowley was certainly much influenced by its ‘go with the flow’ philosophy, at risk of using a
LAO TZE circa 500 BC The legendary Taoist sage and author of the Tao te ching (pronounced ‘dow – day – jing’), also known as Lao Tzu (pronounced ‘laow – zi’). The title of this book means ‘The Book of the Way and its Power’. His biography is found in the Shih chi of Ssu-ma Ch’ien. According to this he was an associate of Confucius (551 – 479 BC) , and presided over the writings of Chou. He apparently advised Confucius to renounce his wordly designs, and he eventually left home to live as a recluse; however before being allowed to do so, he was asked to crystallise his wisdom in writing, whence came the Tao. He left the pages of history on a water buffalo, into his long sought after retreat, probably in order to attain the ‘higher wisdom’. The Tao is a short, yet profound, and deeply mystical work of 81 chapters. Taosim is still practised in China, and forms a fundamental aspect of the nation’s cultural makeup. The Tao is required reading for Students of the A.·. A.·., and Crowley was certainly much influenced by its ‘go with the flow’ philosophy, at risk of using a