THE ARCANUM (or GREAT ARCANUM)

©2013 Dorian Taddei

The Arcanum was a theory of correspondences between all parts of the invisible and the visible cosmos. Those who studied the Arcanum or Great Arcanum, held the conviction that all of nature — from the mineral, and animal, through the cosmos — was a manifestation of a fundamental, dynamic structure which was thought of as the origin of all intelligence and life-force. Down through the ages this 'fabric of space' was known by many names, among them: the Aether (or Ether), Akasha, Soph or Sophia, Holy Ghost, Light of Christ, etc. This life force was also understood to penetrate all space, and in fact was the source of everything.

This Arcanum represented the coherent knowledge gleaned by literally hundreds of thousands of years of hominid spiritual evolution. The acquisition of this knowledge was considered sacred, and was protected from loss through the use of ideogrammatic symbols. In order to preserve them, these symbols were usually pecked and chipped into solid rock. These are known today as petroglyphs.

This archaic science of alchemy was closely allied to ancient astrology. As we comprehend the true nature of the universe — its origins from the aether, or what the Egyptians referred to (for symbolic reasons) as the primeval waters of Nun — these interdependent relationships become absolutely clear. It was for this reason that the arcane expression "as above, so below" became the mantra of the ancient practitioners of arcane science — or magic (from the word Magi).

The alchemical operations of nature (which man learned to accelerate only) are complex, and are due to the nature of water itself. As concentrations of matter increase in water, this alters the nature of the dynamic geometry of water. Acting upon water, the aetheric forces driven by planetary positions, alter the dynamic equilibrium of the solution allowing certain configurations and alignments of atoms to occur within these changing equilibrium states. Water is polar (unbalanced electrically) and naturally forms geometric clusters. These geometries store information in the form of dynamic Electron transfer, the ballet of atomic-molecular electrostatic repulsion just as the structure of molecules depends upon the geometry of the nucleus and atomic orbitals of each atom — the Menstruum, and aetheric influences of planetary alignments, called syzygies. These events altered the balance of aetheric forces making some alchemical operations possible, and blocking or attenuating others. It is not possible to see the Great Work of the lapis philosophorum through to its conclusion without timing certain operations in harmony with the planetary ballet. Hence, alchemy and astrology — in ancient times — were really two parts of the same esoteric discipline.

Since all alchemists were esotericists, and all esotericists took oaths not to reveal their knowledge to the uninitiated public, those wishing to publish information to their potential peers, relied upon cryptic written communications (the inspiration for the world gibberish), as well as allegorical drawings, etchings and painting called 'emblematic art', to insure the preservation their life's work. Prior to the renaissance the only way to transmit information was through handwritten texts or individually illustrated (illuminated) manuscripts. As the 15th century saw the invention of the Gutenberg Press, and the renaissance ushered in a new age of mass produced printed documents, emblematic art from alchemists such as Michael Maier, Johann Daniel Mylius, Nicolas Flamel, George Ripley and others, became the de facto standard for the transmission of the Arcanum. If one can learn to decipher it, this art reveals a vast ancient corpus of lost science, and reveals the true depth of cosmological knowledge once extant in the hoary past.

Esotericists frequently suggest that there is a concordance between different religious traditions: an example is the belief in prisca theologia (ancient theology) or in philosophia perennis (perennial philosophy). This is easily understood, but only fully comprehended if one understands the true cosmology, and the projection of its fundamental principles (as the laws of both the spiritual and physical universe) as it is projected up from the interplay of the forces deriving from this dynamic geometry of the aether from the atomic structures and fundamental forces (magnetism, gravity, electric fields and light) as it is projected up into sentient life itself.

The Hermetists of Egypt called this fundamental structure simply The ALL. Among the statements that were coined to explain this relationship — the following idiom (taken from the esoteric primer on this cosmological religion, called the Kybalion) is perhaps the simplest:

"While All is in THE ALL, it is equally true that THE ALL is in ALL. To him who truly understands this truth hath come great knowledge." — The Kybalion.

Ancient initiates in various orders across the known world held that a knowledge of the forces and dynamics of this underlying fabric of creation, and the nature of our consciousness (embedded within it) was necessary in order to achieve spiritual evolution. It was held that in order to understand this ALL, and the very nature of one's mind, one needed to directly experience this ALL, bereft of what modern science refers to as the Ego. Such a mystical epiphany — an at-one-ment — was considered absolutely necessary in order for an initiate to gain direct knowledge of the Divine — a gnosis only obtainable within the temple of one's own body. ONly one freed from Maya, experiencing the unfiltered reality, could then experience a true Theophany. It is the recorded theophanies of ancient Mystics that form the basis of "mystical' religious texts. Modern religions have devolved into an endless study in Hermeneutics, direct spiritual epiphany being ignored in favor of endless doctrines.

This direct knowledge was called Gnosis. The method of entering into this state of raw consciousness was through a spiritual re-birthing (Christianity's "baptism of fire"). These re-birthing experiences were accomplished through the ingestion of either exogenous entheogenic sacramental admixtures, or through the activation of endogenous DMT — made active through the use of MAOIs and exposure to extended darkness, usually in underground sanctums. In many traditions these sacraments were symbolized by the concept of a Tree of Knowledge (or Tree of ALL Knowledge). These practices continue even unto our times among initiated Amerindian sects within the United States, and have been revitalized thanks to the growing interest in the use of Ayahuasca.

This Arcanum, or 'Sacred Science', was passed via secret oral transmission of its core spiritual teachings, through initiation from master to disciple, down through millennia of time. It’s origins are still shrouded in mystery, but it is clear that this corpus of knowledge once existed in areas of Siberia, as early as 20,000 years before the present. However, even these ancient traditions are but the foci for the evolution of our current race of Man. The Indian sources refer to our species as the 5th 'root race,' and insist that 4 other races have preceded us. Hence, the origin of esoteric initiation cannot be traced in any meaningful way. It is simply a given.

INTRODUCTION TO LABYRINTHS

Since antiquity, the 'sacred science' of true cosmology have been entrusted only to initiates. According to the leading authority in esoteric traditions, and metaphysics, the 19th century intellectual René Guénon, individual experience with pure metaphysical knowledge relates to the "greater mysteries", and the knowledge of traditional (sacred) sciences to the "lesser mysteries." From an historical perspective, the "lesser mysteries" were merely a preparation to the "greater mysteries." Guénon insisted that ultimately one has to go back beyond the very origin of humanity in order to discovery the basis of these mysteries. Hence, the question of an "historical" origin of esoteric initiation would have little meaning. It's origins, however, can easily be deduced by those who have experienced true ego-dissolution experiences. In such a heightened state of consciousness, the mind literally taps into the infinite intelligence of the aetheric medium (or the Akasha, All, Soph, etc.). In such states thoughts take on a hieroglyphic quality, objectivity is clear and the entire universe is spread before our spiritual eyes. There is no place for subjective ego to hide. It is as is the mind visualizes pure thought.

In the symbolic story of Adam and Eve, in the Hebrew bible, Adam (we must assume in a state of mystical consciousness, in direct communication with his God), sees each form of life and he speaks its name. This naming is a mnemonic, ideogrammatic naming process. In altered states the mind SEES structure, patterns, as if filled with ontological hieroglyphic formulae.

The Tibetan Bon practice an incredibly old form of transcendental meditation. They claim that the roots of their traditions are over 16,000 years old, in Siberia. Their famous Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol) describes these states of (ego) re-entry into the body, and the benign and wrathful 'deities' that follow the soul in its rebirthing tumble through the Bardos. The description of these experiences parallel the descriptions given by Thoth in his Emerald Tablet. Our own experiences parallel those of the ancients. Re-birthing is a universal experience that take place beyond normal consciousness.

The human being inevitably plummets back to earth from these mystical states, unless we've actually died and shuffled off the mortal coil. In artificially induced ego-death (induced through the ancient entheogenic sacraments used in occult rituals). once referred to in gnostic Christianity as a 'baptism of fire,' one will eventually return to the state referred to as Maya in the Vedas, Puranas, et al. This experience is akin to a falling, winding motion. In the Emerald Tablet of Thoth, Thoth refers to this as being caught in 'crooked paths.' The symbol depicting this experience — the actual experience of being 'incarnated' — has always been the labyrinth. One of the oldest examples of this labyrinth symbolism is found in our Tetraskele Trademark. This is a Siberian labyrinth image, embedded in the Tetraskele (aka Gammadion) symbol. One of the most common of the ancient labyrinth forms on earth, found at diverse locations in both the Old and New Worlds, resembles a brain, and is often called the Classic Labyrinth. Below is the Classical Labyrinth petroglyph located on a rock wall, near the City of Glastonbury.

Glastonbury Tor in the evening's light. This monument to antiquity reminds us of the soberness of ancient religions. Adjacent to this hill, once a massive labyrinth complex, stood the Glastonbury Abbey; the church built by Joseph of Arimathea, mariner and tin trader, and the uncle of Jesus Christ. Glastonbury Abbey once housed one of the most important of the ancient 'wisdom texts,' the Egyptian-Druidic compilation known as the Kolbrin. It was also the original geographical setting of the famous myths of King Arthur. These connections are not coincidental.

OUT OF OBSCURITY

This cosmologically-based knowledge was once called the Arcanum. This Arcanum represented the coherent knowledge gleaned by literally hundreds of thousands of years of hominid spiritual evolution. The acquisition of this knowledge was considered sacred, and was protected from loss through the use of ideogrammatic symbols. In order to preserve them, these symbols were usually pecked and chipped into solid rock. These are known today as petroglyphs.

This archaic science of alchemy was closely allied to ancient astrology. As we comprehend the true nature of the universe — its origins from the aether, or what the Egyptians referred to (for symbolic reasons) as the primeval waters of Nun — all scientific disciplines, all the various laws of nature, and their effects, are understood to arise from the same fundamental aetheric medium, the fabric of space itself, or aether. The interdependent nature of all things becomes absolutely clear. The same dynamic geometric fabric that holds together the parts of an Atom, and drives them into motion, repeats itself on ever ascending scales, and also drives the planets in the solar system, and in turn drives solar systems into galaxies, and so on, It was for this reason that the arcane expression AS ABOVE SO BELOW became the mantra of the ancient practitioners of arcane science — or magic (from the word Magi).

The knowledge of the nature of the configuration and action of the quinta essentia, was a closely guarded secret in ancient times. However, this knowledge was not gained in the heyday of the Homo sapien species, and was, rather, knowledge passed down from antiquity, from one homed species to another. This is clear when we look at the earlier alchemical traditions in Europe, and the state they were in by the time we reach the late renaissance. The clearest examples of extant knowledge, being passed from ancient sources to modern, occurs in the early 17th century among the Rosicrucians, arguably the recipients of the knowledge of the Knights Templar.

As coincidence would have it, Johann Daniel Mylius’ illustration for “Opus medico-chymicum,” and Count Michael Maier’s emblematic art for the “12 Keys of Basil Valentine,” were both published in 1618. Both of these examples of alchemical, emblematic art encoded accurate information on the specifics of the manufacture of both the Green and Red “elixirs of life!" Additionally, within these images we can find occulted, an intensely coherent understanding of major elements of the regimens and processes of the alchemist, as well as advanced knowledge of the immune system, cellular and sub-cellular structures of the human body, with references to symbolism traceable to ancient India. This is all far too advanced to have been discovered or invented at any time contemporary to their publication, and its coherent nature suggests to us that its transmission had been nearly completed as a corpus of hermetic science.

So, what was the connection?

In the BIRDS OF ALCHEMY and RENAISSANCE ALCHEMY sections of this website we offer analyses of these published masterpieces of subtly, and show that both Maier and Mylius had access to information that was not contemporary or consistent with their own scientific understanding. Both of these men were known Rosicrucians. This is the common link.

This was borrowed knowledge. And it was apparently fragile. Most of this 'sacred science' appears to be generally lost by the end of that century. Or, perhaps those who had this knowledge decided to become more reclusive due to the geopolitical landscape.

When we speak of the knowledge of antiquity, the obvious question an modern alchemist might ask, would be, "how far back does this knowledge extend?"

At a rock art site in Pradesh, India, known as Auditorium Cave, buried beneath some 200,00 - 500,000 years of mineral deposits, lies a single "cup and groove" petroglyph. This artifact predates the dominance of the Homo sapien race, and proves an advanced knowledge of alchemy (chemistry) and the use of hardened iron tools. In fact, the wisdom and (scientific) knowledge and attainments of pre-Human races, demonstrates the temporocentric biases of our culture and sciences. This artifact flies in the face of the specious anthropological assumptions of Darwinian Evolution, and challenges our perception of the archaic past of this planet. We stress this because our work embraces ALL discoveries, and allows for no anomalies. A true reconstruction of history must be correct, if we are enter into an intelligent, ontological discussion of the purpose and nature of our existence as sentient, spiritual beings.

The alchemical operations of nature are complex, and are due to the nature of water itself. As concentrations of matter increase in water, this alters the nature of the dynamic geometry of water. Acting upon water, the aetheric forces driven by planetary positions, alter the dynamic equilibrium of the solution allowing certain configurations and alignments of atoms to occur within these changing equilibrium states. Water is polar (unbalanced electrically) and naturally forms geometric clusters placing the molecules of water into a higher state of balance or equilibrium. These geometries or clusters store information, or 'intelligence.' The ballet of atomic-molecular electrostatic repulsion between electrons, depends upon the balance or imbalance of the geometry of the nucleus and atomic orbitals of each atom .

The position of the Sun and moon play a critical part in altering the equilibrium within an aqueous solutions. A term In Alchemy that refers to conditions within water that allow it to exert organizing geometric conditions upon other dissolved solids, was called a Menstruum. This words derives from the Moon (mens), a Menstruum bing not a solvent (as it mistakenly believed) but refers to a condition where the atomic forces, driven by planetary alignments that affect the atomic ballet within water (these alignments are called syzygies). These events altered the balance of aetheric forces making some alchemical operations possible, and blocking or attenuating others. It is not possible to see the Great Work of the lapis philosophorum through to its conclusion without timing certain operations in harmony with this planetary-atomic ballet. Hence, alchemy and astrology — in ancient times — were really two parts of the same esoteric discipline.

Since all alchemists were esotericists, and all esotericists took oaths not to reveal their knowledge to the uninitiated public, those wishing to publish information to their potential peers, relied upon cryptic written communications (the inspiration for the world gibberish), as well as allegorical drawings, etchings and painting called 'emblematic art', to insure the preservation their life's work. Prior to the renaissance the only way to transmit information was through handwritten texts or individually illustrated (illuminated) manuscripts. As the 15th century saw the invention of the Gutenberg Press, and the renaissance ushered in a new age of mass produced printed documents, emblematic art from alchemists such as Michael Maier, Johann Daniel Mylius, Nicolas Flamel, George Ripley and others, became widely available, as this became the de facto standard for the transmission of the Arcanum. If one can learn to decipher it, this art reveals a vast ancient corpus of lost science, and reveals the true depth of cosmological knowledge once extant in the hoary past.

This website is dedicated to this decipherment and the resurrection of the Great Arcanum in the Age of Aquarius. This can only be realized by a movement back to the roots of cosmology, for modern science — and its reliance upon mathematical metaphors — provides us with few real answers.

Published beginning in 1500, the hermetic truths within the pages of the Corpus Hermeticum launched the revolution in new ideas known today as The Renaissance.

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