The Attribution of the Name Yod He Vau He
This name is the key to the whole of the Enochian attributions of the squares to the elements. The letters are thus referred:
Yod
Fire
Wands
He
Water
Cups
Vau
Air
Swords
(final) He
Earth
Pentacles
Attribution of the Great Name to the Four Tablets
Attribution of the Great Name to the Corners
Not only are the letters of Tetragrammaton attributed to the tablets themselves, and to the lesser angles of the tablets, but they are so arranged that even the squares of the tablets come under the jurisdiction and governance of the letters. So far as concerns the Great Cross, the method for attributing to it the letters of the name is to divide each vertical and horizontal line into groups of three adjoining squares. Against the top left hand corner of the Great Cross, and on the left of its horizontal shaft, put the letter of the name for the element of the tablet, thus Vau for the air tablet, Yod for the fire tablet, etc.
Attribution of the Great Name to the Great Cross
Each square of the above diagram represents three squares on the tablets. This attribution is perfectly simple if it be remembered that the letter consonant to the tablet always comes to the top and left. The arrows show the direction in which the name is to be read.
The Sephirotic Crosses in the lesser angles have, as the student will already have noted, ten squares, each of which is referred to one of the Sephiroth of the Tree of Life. The Sephirotic Cross therefore represents the Sephiroth modified by the letter of the lesser angle. Thus Kether in the airy lesser angle is the Kether of Vau. In the watery lesser angle, it is the Kether of Heh, and so on. The letters, in this case, as elsewhere explained, refer to the four worlds.
Referring to the other squares of the lesser angles, in the Kerubic rank the outside square is always attributed to the letter corresponding to the element of the lesser angle. In the tablets of air and water, the name reads right to left in the two upper quarters; in the two lower quarters it reads from left to right. In the tablets of earth and fire, left to right in the upper, but in the two lower quarters from right to left. Thus in the four tablets, the name reads:
Attribution of the Great Name to the Kerubic Rank
Though the last two groups of the name are the same, this does not indicate that the squares are identical. Their elemental composition differs enormously in each lesser angle, as a little later will be seen.
The servient squares beneath the Calvary Cross may be considered as of four vertical columns of four squares each, or, looking at it from a different angle, of four horizontal ranks also of four squares each. In attributing the letters of Tetragrammaton to these servient squares, the rule is that they follow the attributions of the Kerubic squares. The columns (that is, reading from above downwards) follow the order of the Kerubic squares above, and this order is invariably followed downwards for the ranks, reading from right to left. Thus in the air lesser angle of the air tablet, the Kerubic rank has attribution to the Name:
VAU
HEH
YOD
HEH (Final)
Therefore applying the above rule, the servient squares beneath the Sephirotic Cross follow:
VAU
HEH
YOD
HEH (Final)
HEH (Final)
*
*
*
*
YOD
*
*
*
*
HEH
*
*
*
*
VAU
*
*
*
*
From this example, it will be clearly indicated that each square has a double
attribution to the letters of Tetragrammaton, none being the same since a column and a rank differ. Thus, column Vau rank Yod does not coincide in nature with column Yod rank Vau.
We must now approach the reason for this complex series of references of the letters of the Tetragrammaton to the squares. According to these attributions, so are certain astrological, tarot, geomantic, and Hebrew symbols referred to the squares.
It will be remembered that in attributing the letters of the name to the Great Cross, we subdivided the latter into groups or blocks of three squares each. Every block was attributed to some one letter of Tetragrammaton. Now the signs of the zodiac are to be attributed to the Great Cross, and each of those twelve signs is to be referred to three squares constituting one group or block. The order of their attribution is governed by the letters of the Great Name already referred to the arms of the Great Cross. For instance, fiery signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are attributed to Yod. Watery signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are attributed to Heh. Airy signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) are attributed to Vau. Earthy signs (Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn) are attributed to Heh final.
Thus each group of three squares, constituting a single unit, is attributed to one sign of the zodiac, depending upon the letter of the name referred to that group. Each zodiacal sign, being divisible into three decanates, or divisions of ten degrees, it follows that each of three decanates of the sign may be referred to one of the squares in any group of three squares. The sign refers to the group, the decan refers to one square of that group.
The rule governing the attributions of the twelve signs to the Great Cross is: the four Kerubic or fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) are referred to the squares of the Linea Spiritus Sancti. The four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) are referred to the left side of the Linea Dei Patris Filiique, and the four mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) to the right side of the Linea Dei Patris Filiique.
The decanate system as employed by the Order will be found in the part of this book dealing with the significance of the tarot cards. They begin with the attribution of the first decanate of Aries to the planet Mars, and ending with the last decanate of Pisces also ruled by Mars. The order of planets for the decanates follows the order of Sephiroth on the Tree of Life: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, Mercury, and Luna.
There are thirty-six small cards of the tarot, as explained in the appropriate documents, attributed to the decanates of the twelve signs. Therefore to each of the decanate squares on the Great Cross will be attributed one of the small cards of the tarot. Two, three, and four of each of the four suits of tarot are referred to cardinal signs. Five, six, and seven to the Kerubic or fixed signs; and eight, nine, and ten to the mutable signs. Thus in the air tablet, the Great Cross shows the tarot and decanate attributions as shown.
Great Cross of the Air Tablet
The attribution of the Sephiroth to the ten squares of the Sephirotic Cross is shown on the admission badge to the twenty-seventh Path of Peh, and reproduced in one of the knowledge lectures.2 The planetary attributions to the Sephirotic Cross as used in the Enochian system are rather different from those used on the Tree of Life. But the system that is here employed is constant, and applies to each of the sixteen Sephirotic Crosses on the four tablets.
In this mode of attributing the planets to the Sephiroth on the Calvary Cross of the lesser angles, Saturn is excluded, and Jupiter and the tarot trump, the Wheel of Fortune, is attributed to Kether. The title of this card is “the Lord of the Forces of Life,” and Kether is the origin and source of life.
To Chokmah is attributed Mercury, the tarot key, the Magician, “the Magus of Power,” seeing that Chokmah is the distributor of the power from Kether, even as Mercury is the messenger of Jupiter of classical mythology.
To Binah is referred the moon, and the tarot key “the Priestess of the Silver Star,” even as Binah is the completer of the triad of the supernals, and as it were High Priestess to the inferior Sephiroth. (Compare also, says S.R.M.D., the p
osition of the path of Gimel in the Tree of Life.)
To Chesed, Venus, and the key of the Empress, “the Daughter of the Mighty Ones.” Chesed is, as it were, the first of the inferiors below Binah, and the path of Venus is thus reciprocal between Chokmah and Binah, forming, as it were, the base of the triangle of the supernals.
To Geburah, Mars, and the tarot key of the Blasted Tower, “the Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty,” even as Geburah represents strength and fiery power.
To Tiphareth is the sun, “the Lord of the Fire of the World,” even as Tiphareth is, as it were, the heart and centre of the sun of life.
The remaining four squares of the Sephirotic Cross have no planetary or astrological attributions. The ten squares of the Sephirotic Cross also stand for the Ace and small cards of the suit represented by the element of the lesser angle. Thus wands are attributed to the fire angle, pentacles to the earth angle, etc.
The Kerubic squares are allotted, as their name implies, to the four Kerubim whose emblems follow the order of the letters of Tetragrammaton:
Yod
Heh
Lion—Leo
Eagle—Scorpio
King
Queen
Vau
Heh (final)
Man—Aquarius
Bull—Taurus
Prince
Princess
These last are of the suit corresponding to the element of the lesser angle as explained above, viz: wands to fire and Yod; cups to water and Heh; swords to air and Vau; pentacles to earth and Heh final.
It was previously shown how the squares of the servient part of each lesser angle were given a double attribution to the letters of the name. They were seen to be ruled by a letter governing the rank and also by a letter governing the column. In order to work out the astrological attributions of this allocation, note that the columns go by the triplicity of the Kerubic square at the top, the ranks by quality. By this method there results a highly intricate and ingenious subdivision of elements in the sub-elements of the lesser angles.
Yod and fire are referred to the cardinal signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn.
Heh and water are referred to the kerubic or fixed signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius.
Vau and air are referred to the mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Heh final and earth are referred to the elements, fire, water, air, and earth.
As to the reasons of this latter attribution, S.R.M.D. says that the four cardinal signs are called the most fiery because most solar in nature. That is, the equinoxes and solstices occur when the sun is in these signs. The Kerubic or fixed signs are considered watery because they are the most shining and glittering in nature. The remaining four mutable signs are called the most airy because they are the most subtle in nature; while the four elements are the most earthy because their operation is mainly terrestrial. Incidentally, instead of the usual earth symbol, the planet Saturn is used in the Enochian system, because, to quote S.R.M.D., “though one of the seven lords who wander (planets), Saturn is yet here classed with those who abide because he is the heaviest of the seven and thus formeth a link between the Wanderers and Abiders.”
The following diagram shows how any lesser angle may be worked out using the above rules:
Earth Angle of Water Tablet
One final set of attributions concerns the Tablet of Union, which is referred to spirit. It is employed, as before shown, in binding together the tablets, and in building up angelic names. Its attributions are to the four Aces of the elements and to the court cards. The Aces represent the root force, and the essential spiritual noumenon of the element. The court cards are the vice-gerents of the root force in the element.
Elemental Correspondences of Court Cards
The foregoing methods of attributing the Enochian squares should be completely grasped before proceeding further. It is imperative to understand thoroughly the basic principles of attributions before beginning the analysis of the pyramids based on each square. What follows will have little meaning if the reader has not worked out these references and attributions for himself.
The following diagram shows the letters of Tetragrammaton attributed to the four Enochian tablets in detail. The figures refer to the order of reading the Hebrew letters, but must under no circumstances be confused with the order of the angelic names on the tablets, which always read from left to right.
Attribution of the Great Name to the Lesser Angles
In the 4xox = 7xhx grade the admission badge for the twenty-eighth Path was a pyramid. It was described as having a square base and four sides composed of equilateral triangles cut off so as to leave a flat top. These four sides were attributed to the four elements, and the flat top was conceived to be the throne of Eth, the spirit. Hitherto, the squares of the Enochian tablets have been treated as a single whole and as being flat. In reality, however, they are represented as being pyramids like that described above. The practical magical significance of this will be shown hereafter, but for the moment we must consider the method of producing the sides of these pyramids, and their attributions. With the exception of the Tetragrammaton letter, upon which everything else depends, all the other attributions appear and are included in the definition of the nature of the pyramid. Each side of the pyramid is coloured according to its own appropriate element, or left white for spirit. It by no means follows for example that a square from the airy angle of air will build up a completely yellow pyramid. But every square of the air tablet, in every angle, has at least one airy yellow side to its pyramid. Every square of the airy angle of all four tablets has at least one airy side.
On a flat surface, the pyramid is represented by dividing the square into four triangles, leaving a small square in the centre to mark the flat top. On this, if desired, the appropriate Enochian letter may be placed. The following will be the standard of reference, so that later should mention be made of triangle number two, the following diagram will show its position.
Pyramid of Four Triangles
The pyramid is supposed to be in position on the tablet, so that triangle number two points to the top of the tablet. To work out the pyramid of any square completely, it is necessary to know the attributions of the four triangles and the element of each. Since every tablet comprises four distinct divisions, each of these must be considered separately as each produces a different type of pyramid. The rules for analysing the pyramid based on the squares will be concisely put thus:
Great Cross
Triangle No. 1. Sign of zodiac, small card of tarot.
Triangle No. 2. Spirit.
Triangle No. 3. Planet of decan.
Triangle No. 4. Elemental symbol of the tablet.
Note that triangle number two on the squares of the Great Cross is always spirit, as indicating the operation of the spirit in the primary element, and is shown white. Triangle number four is coloured according to the element of the tablet; thus red for fire tablet, blue for water, black for earth, yellow for air. Triangle number one is to be coloured according to the triplicity of the sign attributed to it, that is as to whether it is of an earthy, fiery, watery, or airy nature. Triangle number three is to be coloured in that of the element ruled by the planet attributed to it. The rule governing the latter is:
Sun and Jupiter rule the element of fire.
Saturn and Mercury rule the element of air.
Venus and moon rule the element of earth.
Mars rules the element of water.
On the other hand, there are alternative methods, the use of which calls into operation other forces than elemental. Thus the colour of number one may be in the colour of the sign itself, as red for Aries, and blue for Sagittarius, etc. Triangle number three may also be coloured in the colour of the planet itself, orange for the sun, green for Venus, etc. If these latter are used, planetary and zodiacal forces would be inferred in lieu of purely elemental ones. The former, however, may be found to be the most practicable for most circ
umstances.
The method of applying these rules to the Great Cross may be seen in the following, consisting of the three left hand squares of the Linea Spiritus Sancti of the air tablet, showing the pyramids formed from the squares of the letters ORO:
Pyramids of ORO
Sephirotic Cross
Triangle No. 1. Elemental emblem of tablet.
Triangle No. 2. Emblem of Spirit.
Triangle No. 3. Elemental emblem of lesser angle.
Triangle No. 4. Sephirah. Letter of Tetragrammaton. Tarot card.
Colouring: No. 1, colour of the element of tablet. No. 2, always white. No. 3, elemental colour of lesser angle. No. 4, either white for Spirit, or in colour of Sephirah.
Kerubic Squares of the Lesser Angles
Triangle No. 1. Tarot card of lesser angle.
Triangle No. 2. Elemental emblem of tablet.
Triangle No. 3. Kerubic symbol answering to letter of Name.
Triangle No. 4. Elemental emblem of lesser angle.
No. 1 will agree with the colouring of No. 3 always. That is, the colour will be that of the element of the court card corresponding to the Kerub. No. 2 shows the elemental colour of the tablet. No. 4, elemental colour of the lesser angle.
The Golden Dawn Page 87