by D. N. Carter
Fig 9:
“My Lord, this is amazing. But this Metatron…I have never heard of this before. Who or what does it mean?” Paul asked quizzically.
“Metatron is a Hebrew word, or name (Hebrew ), or Mattatron, which is a differentiation of Metatron who is an Archangel in Judaism. I will explain it as it will be necessary long term to know of it. According to the Jewish apocrypha, he is Enoch, ancestor of Noah, transformed into an angel. There are no references to Metatron as an angel in the Jewish Tanakh or Christian scriptures; however, Genesis 5:24 is often cited as evidence of Enoch’s bodily ascension into heaven, ‘And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him’. Although he is mentioned in a few brief passages in the Talmud, Metatron appears primarily in Jewish mystical texts and other post-scriptural esoteric and occult sources, such as the Books of Enoch, 1 Enoch, 2 Enoch, and 3 Enoch. In Rabbinic tradition, he is the highest of the angels and serves as the celestial scribe. He is like the Greek Hermes and Egyptian Thoth. All I can tell you today, to get you started, is that all of this is directly connected with what is known as the Merkabah Star, the Vesica Pisces, and that by studying the Metatron and the Flower of Life symbolism, you will gain access to other doors of knowledge. Powerful knowledge! It is knowledge that people will kill for,” Niccolas said looking closely at Paul’s reaction to his last comment. But Paul kept on smiling.
“But how does this explain the connection of the rose and bee symbols with my actual family?” Paul asked and looked up at Niccolas.
Niccolas moved around the table and sat beside Paul and looked at him.
“Paul, Metatron’s Cube depicts the five Platonic solids which may be derived from the Flower of Life. The five Platonic solids are geometrical forms which are said to act as a template from which all life springs, according to spiritual belief. The Platonic solids are five structures that are crucial because they are the building blocks of organic life. These five structures are found in minerals, animated and organic life forms, sound, music, language, et cetera. Metatron’s Cube is also considered a holy glyph, used to ward off evil spirits. The Kabbalah’s Tree of Life is also derived from the Flower of Life. The Flower of Life symbol can be seen all over the world. It was what your father, Firgany and another friend of theirs spent their lives trying to locate and uncover its secrets. They even found it at an ancient Egyptian Temple of Osiris at Abydos, as Egypt contains the oldest known examples of the Flower of Life. They are at least over six thousand years old and may date back to as long ago as 10,500 BC or earlier. But again, those dates do not sit well with the Church and its view of creation. To argue otherwise you will run the risk of being branded heretical and a blasphemer…At Abydos, the strange thing about the symbol carved there is that it appears not to have been carved into the granite, but instead to have been burned into it or somehow drawn on it with incredible precision. It is thought to possibly represent the eye of RA, a symbol of the authority of the Pharaoh. Your father and Firgany found other examples from Phoenician, Assyrian, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern and European sites as well as within ancient art. It is why your father spends so much time these days drawing up new images and stories with all these symbols incorporated within his work. As for how it all actually applies to your family, I guess I should explain more on the symbol of the apple and the rose themselves, then, but I warn you, this will take some time and even after I am finished, you may still not be any the wiser,” Niccolas said softly.
“I am happy with that. If you have the time, then I certainly do.”
“In that case, we should eat and drink before we start,” Niccolas explained as he stood up.
Within minutes Niccolas had gone upstairs and returned with some bread, cold meat and some mustard spread and water. He seemed to deliberately take his time to sort out the lunch meal. He said a prayer for the food and drink and took his time to eat the small lunch in silence. Paul thought he was stalling but had to go along with what Niccolas was doing. Eventually he pushed the plates and empty water jugs away.
“I trust that is enough to sustain you and that the water was of your liking?” Niccolas asked, his tone somehow different. Paul felt a little apprehensive, as if he were about to be told something he would find uncomfortable or terrible.
“Yes, thank you. We do not usually drink fresh water that has not been boiled first, but your supply is clearly very pure and wonderful,” Paul replied and cringed inside at his own reply.
“Then we shall start…and I warn you now, to repeat to others not as open minded may solicit abuse both verbally and physically from most people, so I would urge you guard as if your life depended upon it what you tell others from here onwards. So I have to ask, can you keep a secret?”
“Yes, of course I can…honestly,” Paul answered.
“Right, then understand this…that roses have long been used as a sacred symbol by many a number of secret organisations and are also ancient symbols of love and beauty. ‘Rose’ means pink or red in a variety of languages, especially Latin and Greek. The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses including Isis, whose rose is also represented by the lily. Make a special note of that particular aspect. The ancient Greeks and Romans identified the rose with the goddess of love, Aphrodite being her Greek name and Venus, her Roman name. In Rome a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential matters were being discussed. The phrase ‘sub rosa’, or ‘under the rose’, meant ‘to keep a secret’, and derived from this ancient Roman practice. In Islam, which is why your father and Firgany were so entwined in their joint researches, the mystics of Sufism cultivated geometrical gardens, in which the rose often held pride of place. In turn, the imagery of lover and beloved became a type for the Sufi mystic’s quest for divine love. One example of rose symbolism in Sufism includes the Sufi master Gilani, or as we call him, Jilani, as being known as the ‘Rose of Baghdad’ and his Order, the Qadiriyya, uses the rose as its symbol,” Niccolas explained slowly and reverentially, his hands clasped together as if in great concentration.
“I have heard this name before. I think Father must have spoken of him with Firgany,” Paul interrupted.
“That does not surprise me, for they had cause once to visit him in person…but that is another story for another time. But I can explain that he was the founder of the Qadiriyya, Abdul-Qadir Gilani being his full name. He was a respected scholar and preacher. He had been a pupil at the school of Abu Sa’id al-Mubarak Mukharrami and he became leader of this school after Mukharrami’s death in AD 1119. Being the new shaykh, he and his large family lived comfortably in the Madrasa until his death in AD 1166, when his son, Abdul-Wahhab, succeeded his father as sheikh. Gilani’s son, Abdul al-Razzaq, published a hagiography, which means a biography of a saint, by the way, of his father, emphasising his reputation as founder of a distinct and prestigious Sufi order. Sufism had been in conflict with Islamic orthodoxy since the ninth century culminating in the execution of al-Husayn ibn Mansur al Hallaj. It is generally accepted that the first exponent of Sufi doctrine was the Egyptian or Nubian, Dhun Nun, of the ninth century AD, whose teaching was recorded and systematised by al Junayd. The doctrines expressed by al Junayd were then boldly preached by his pupil ash-Shibli of Khurasan in the tenth century. A fellow-student of ash-Shibli was al Hallaj, whose thought demonstrated some clearly heretical elements, such as reincarnation, incarnation and so on. He was ultimately put to death for declaring ‘I am the truth’, identifying himself with God. However, later Sufi writers nevertheless regard him as a saint and martyr who suffered because he disclosed the great secret of the mystical union of man and God. The Sufis reinterpret the ancient magical practices of mystical union with the ‘divine’ as Hulul, or the incarnation of God in the human body. While Tawheed, the ‘Oneness’ of God, typically refers to the monotheistic creed of Islam, for the Sufis it refers to this mystical union with God. According to al Hallaj, for example, man is essentially divine because he was created by God in his own image, and that i
s why he claimed that in the Qur’an God commands the angels to bow down in ‘worship’ to Adam. An important source of ancient mystical teachings in Sufism were the Epistles of the Ikhwan al Saffa wa Khullan al Wafa, or of ‘The Brethren of Sincerity and Loyal Friends’. They were a brotherhood that flourished in the city of Basra in Iraq. The city is part of the historic location of Sumer, the home of Sinbad the Sailor, and a proposed location of the Garden of Eden, some claim… your father certainly had an interesting time there…,” Niccolas said and then paused for several minutes clearly in deep thought before continuing. “The Epistles were composed by leading proponents of the Isma’ilis, who are oft portrayed as a heretical sect of the Shiah. Again both your father and Firgany had strong ties with this group…These Epistles were a philosophical and religious encyclopaedia, which scholars regard as reflecting elements of Pythagorean, Neoplatonic and Zoroastrian traditions drawn up in the tenth century AD. Though the Epistles drew on multiple traditions, they attributed to them a common origin, echoing Aristobulus in tracing Greek philosophy to Jewish roots. The Epistles also boasted that, along with representatives of all walks of society, their order also consisted of ‘philosophers, sages, geometers, astronomers, naturalists, physicians, diviners, soothsayers, casters of spells and enchantments, interpreters of dreams, alchemists, astrologers, and many other sorts, too many to mention’. The Epistles, which contributed to the popularisation of Neoplatonism in the Arabic world, have had a great influence on Islamic mysticism and philosophy, such as that of the renowned Sufi, Ibn Arabi, and was transmitted as far as Al-Andalus, or Moorish Spain, where they are having a profound influence on the Jewish Kabbalah. Mystical tradition also purports that the Zohar as being written now by adepts living in the Languedoc region, and will probably become one its most important Kabbalistic texts, is based on an earlier ‘Arabic Kabbalah’ of the Brethren of Sincerity, whom along with other Sufi mystics are being widely studied by many Jewish mystics. There are many philosophers who are trying to interweave Judaism and Islam right now…but that is a dangerous path to follow,” Niccolas explained then paused for some while again as he thought to himself. He then continued. “Jilani himself was condemned for harbouring heretical works in his school, particularly the writings of the Brethren of Sincerity. But I have to caution you to understand that the legend of Jilani’s life and career has been much embellished by his successors. For example, his pedigree was traced on his father’s side in the direct line to Hasan, grandson of the Prophet. But the pedigree was shown to be a fabrication of his grandson the Abu Salih Nasr, to whom numerous fictions can be traced. So as I have said many times before, always check your sources, young Paul, and validate them. The list of his performed miracles began at the earliest, while only a child, when he was said to have begun a fast by refusing the breast of his mother. He was believed to be able to punish distant sinners and assist the oppressed in a miraculous manner, walk on water and move through the air. Angels and Jinn, ‘people of the hidden world’ and even the Prophet Muhammad himself, it was said, would appear at his meetings and express their appreciation. al Jilani’s fame among his followers in some cases nearly displaced that of the Prophet Muhammad, and he is regularly styled the Sultan of the Saints. His reputation attracted numerous pupils from all parts of the Islamic world, and his persuasive rhetoric is said to have converted many Jews and Christians to Islam. Like Ibn Arabi, Jilani claimed to have come into contact with the mysterious figure of al Khidr, revered by the Sufis, three times over the course of his life. While pagan mysticism typically aspires to union with a ‘god’, a practice which would otherwise be acknowledged in Islam as communication with Jinn, the Sufis avoid all associations by claiming to make contact with the mysterious figure of al Khidr, meaning ‘the Green One’. Though not mentioned by that name in the Qur’an, al Khidr is identified with a figure met by Moses. He is referred to as the ‘Servant of God’ and as ‘one from among Our friends’ whom ‘We’ had granted mercy from ‘Us’ ‘God’ and whom we had taught knowledge from Ourselves’. In the Qur’an, Moses asks for permission to accompany him that he may learn ‘right knowledge of what he has been taught’, but the name Khidr is found only in Hadith literature, such as the case whereby the Prophet Muhammad is said to have stated that Elijah and Khidr meet every year and spend the month of Ramadan in Jerusalem, and another narrated by Yaqub ibn Sufyan from Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, whereby a man he was seen walking with was actually Khidr,” Niccolas explained slowly as Paul listened intently
“Niccolas, this information is all new to me, and it does actually explain to me a little of why my father has such an interest in Islamic art, literature and Sufi mysticism, but have we not lost the thread here about the rose and apple symbolism and its connection to my family?” Paul politely asked.
Niccolas sat back and smiled broadly just looking at Paul for a few moments.
“You make an excellent pupil. Not afraid to state the obvious and ask questions…and if you let me finish, I will explain why this has relevance… now then, shall I?” Niccolas replied.
“Of course, please do. And apologies if I have offended you,” Paul said.
“No offence given nor taken. Now then, I need you to know that to the Sufis, Khidr acquired a number of occult associations and, as some would argue and have assumed, was the disguise used by demonic apparitions. The figure of Khidr originated most likely from Jewish legends and is associated with the Muslim Mahdi, in the same way that the prophet Elijah is associated with the Jewish Messiah. According to the Book of Kings, Elijah defended the worship of the one God over that of the Phoenician god Baal. Elijah, like Enoch, did not die but is believed to have ascended directly to heaven. Some of the earliest sources on Sandalphon, an archangel in Jewish and Christian writings, refer to him as the prophet Elijah transfigured and elevated to angelic status. Other sources, mainly from the Midrashic period, describe Sandalphon as the ‘twin brother’ of Metatron, whose Metatron Cube I explained earlier, whose human origin as Enoch was similar to the human origin of Sandalphon. In the Kabbalah, Sandalphon is the angel who represents the Sephiroth of Malkhut and overlaps, or is confounded with, the angel Metatron. Elijah is an important figure of the Kabbalah, where numerous leading Kabbalists claim to preach a higher knowledge of the Torah directly inspired by the prophet through a ‘revelation of Elijah’ (gilluy ‘eliyahu). The imagery and symbolism of twins will in time become an all too familiar multi layered enigma that you may struggle to comprehend and learn…the first and most obvious one being the Templars’ seal depicting two riders upon a single horse. Khidr, by the way, also shows certain affinities with the ancient dying-god, just like ancient Egyptian dying-gods, by also representing fertility, which is offered as the reason for his association with the colour green. Likewise, Elijah’s association with fertility and rain production is widespread in biblical and Rabbinic literature. The Green Man symbolism is also vast to learn and has many identical counterparts within all religions and ancient myths and Khidr is recognised as being directly associated with the Green Man motif, which is often related to fertility deities found in different cultures throughout the world, such as the Celtic god Cernunnos, Green George, Jack in the Green, Puck, and the Green Knight of Grail legend. Wiccan tradition claims, despite the obvious associations, not to worship the devil but as merely being a fertility cult that worships the Green Man, who has often been used as a representation of the Horned God. The figure of al Khidr has its equivalent in the cult of Saint George, shared by Christians and Jews as well as Muslims. There is a tradition in Outremer, the Holy Land of Christians and Muslims, of going to the Eastern Orthodox shrine of Saint George at Beith Jala, with Jews also attending the site in the belief that the prophet Elijah was buried there. These Muslims worshipped this same Saint George or Elijah as the Sufi figure, al Khidr, a tradition which is found throughout the Middle East, from Egypt to Asia Minor. The origin of Saint George is in Cappadocia and is similar to the ancient god named Dionysus-Sabazios, who was usua
lly depicted riding on horseback. Dionysus-Sabazios was one of the many gods that the Romans adopted from other cultures, such as the Egyptian Isis, the Persian Mysteries of Mithras, Thracian/Phrygian Sabazius and Phrygian Cybele. The rites of Dionysus, known as Dionysus-Sabazios, were the same as those performed in Asia Minor in honour of Cybele, known as the Magna Mater, which was taken over from the Persian worship of Anahita in Cappadocia. He was originally Attis, named after the Phrygian name for goat. His consort was the Magna Mater, the Great Mother, Cybele, identified with Venus and worshipped as the goddess of fertility. In Phrygia, where numerous Jewish colonies are established, Attis was assimilated to Dionysus-Sabazios, with a history of its linguistic form as a word dating back to the Hellenistic period that equates with Yahweh Zebaoth, the biblical Lord of Hosts. According to Lydus, a Byzantine astrologer of the sixth century AD, the Chaldeans called the god Dionysus, or Bacchus, Iao ‘Yahweh’ in the Phoenician tongue, instead of the Intelligible Light, and he is also called Sabaoth, signifying that he is above the seven poles, that is the Demiurgos. In the first century AD, Cornelius Labeo equated Iao with Dionysus, after following the Oracle of Apollo of Claros…but now, as I think I may be confusing, we must move on and see how roses started to come into fashion after many Christians began to identify the five petals of the rose with the five wounds of Christ, the same five petals that mirror the five points within the vertically cut apple. Roses are also associated with the Virgin Mary. The red rose was eventually adopted as a symbol of the blood of the Christian martyrs. A bouquet of red roses is often used to show love. The anagram of rose in Greek is Eros, which means ‘Love’. Note that on St George’s Day in Catalonia people offer dark red roses as gifts, especially between lovers. In England, where you were born, there is a real effort to have the rose adopted as the official flower of the country, and in time it will be so. Already England has St George as its patron saint. The Virolai, a hymn to the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the black Madonnas of Europe, begins with the words: ‘Rosa d’abril, Morena de la serra’ (April rose, dusky lady of the mountain chain). Therefore this virgin is sometimes known as ‘Rosa d’abril’. The red rose is consequently accepted as an unofficial symbol of Catalonia. And your father, being an architect, can certainly show you the many rose window designs he has drawn up, and the drafts he still holds of the rose windows at Chartres Cathedral in Paris. Roses are the main basis of design for church and cathedral windows comprising five or ten segments, the five petals and five sepals of a rose, or multiples thereof, though most Gothic rose windows are much more elaborate. The rose is, as I have said, going to be the national flower of England,” Niccolas paused as Paul seemed to be staring blindly at the stone table. After a while Paul looked up.