This link amused me because Freemasonry from the very start talks about things that are out of sight... hidden, lost. It soon becomes apparent that this is to do with hidden or lost knowledge of sorts but as soon as mention is made of some areas of knowledge the word 'occult' is shouted from the rafters and everyone runs for the hills.
Occult - means hidden.
Obviously, “occult” covers a lot of ground. However, the word tends to be used as if the occult were strictly and exclusively evil, Satanic, or something to be feared. There is, in fact, no reason for real concern. One might wish to avoid “the black arts” or “black magic”, but “transcendental”, “cabalistic” [Ha Qabala], “puzzling”, or “esoteric” topics carry with them no threat, and may be more appropriately thought of as something to be sought. Even “witchcraft” -- when properly understood as Wicca -- has its appeal, and in that form is very definitely not something to be feared.
Daath, the occult and the dark Sephiroth, is in reality where a lot of the good stuff resides. It is, in our version of the Tree of Life, related to Pluto or Hades -- the latter being known as “from whence all good things come.” Here we have the means of delving into the unknown, the veiled, the hidden arenas. This is the stuff of Death and Rebirth -- as well as its ultimate personification, Reincarnation. This is where we journey, when we make our Descent into the Underworld. This is where the tools of the esoteric trade include: Astrology, Numerology, Tarot (all three fundamental to the Ha Qabala and the Tree of Life), the Tao Te Ching, Alchemy, Magic, Wicca, Divination, Secrets, and of course, Conspiracies. The latter is, in fact, the truly entertaining aspect of occultism -- provided one can get past the natural anger arising from the discovery of the degree of truth in some of the reigning conspiracies! The rule is always, “Get Ye Over It.”
Daath is located on the Tree of Life, not in the column of Severity or Mercy, but in the column of Mildness. It’s therefore about as threatening as Education, Communications, Synthesis, or the Heavenly bliss of Kether. It’s rather like hearing someone yell, “Bear!”, only to turn and find out it’s Winnie the Pooh arriving on the scene. [And with Winnie, comes the irrepressible, irresistible (not to mention inexplicable) Tigger.]
Post by stepnwolf on May 15, 2013 23:13:48 GMT 9.5
>Some 'lights' are so bright that they blind us, maybe this is why Daath is 'hidden'
An interesting idea! Are you saying the Daath provides the blinding light or is it Ain Soph Aur blazing behind/above Kether the sheds its light on Daath?
In "working the tree" it seems we circumvent Daath in our ascension to the Supernals. There may be reasons other than the mere geometrical ones. It's said that all the Sephiroth exist in Daath in their perfection. To experience Daath must be like looking into the face of Chaos directly.
Generally Daat is seen as the Yesod of the world above. In the figure below E is both Daat of the Tree starting at B and Yesod for the Tree starting at A
I have reported previously that I was given the vision of Yesod and Daath as being each end of a see-saw.
Just had a bit of fun getting this together...
Yesod is the level of consciousness associated with the moon. It is the place of the unconscious mind. It is the place of pre-thought forms. These pre-thought forms are the energy currents that come just before an idea or a thing manifests. It is the spark of manifestation and of ideas. As such visiting this place will stir your unconscious mind with all sorts of things that could be manifested or wait to be manifested. Yesod is good place to visit if you are bored or lack direction in life. The energy here will stir your unconscious energies that then could mysteriously propel you into something new. Yesod is also the place where you can observe the cycle of things. Like life and death, summer and winter, beginnings and endings. It is a place to learn that with life comes change and that change takes you to new changes.
Relating this to Masonic symbolism – Moon on TB. New Work. Lodge set up. Perambulations associated with ascending/evolving. Good men made better by actively participating in the creative process (becoming receptive to ideas which come ones way and working on them).
Daath. This Sephira is the secret Sephira. It is located on the crossway between Binah and Chokmah. It lies below the Abyss and is inexplicably linked to Binah and Chokmah. It also connects directly to Kether, through the Abyss, however this conduit is for pure energy transfer only and not for use by travellers. In many texts, Daath is not even mentioned. In other texts, they merely say that it is not a real place, but that it is just the result of the tidal forces between the Sephirah Binah and Chokmah. However, the Sephira Daath is an actual Sephira. It is hidden and access to this Sephira is limited to only the most adept of students. Daath is the Sephira of creation. It is here that the tidal forces of positive and negative come together to be used for the benefit of the physical developmental system. It is here where the polarized energy pours forth from the Abyss and becomes manifested into forms, such as your physical universe. As such, it is a very powerful and ominous place. The forces of positive and negative are kept in tight abeyance here, and this tension can be felt at all times, upon visiting.
I had to think harder with this one I decided that masonically I would have to place this Sephira at the Alter on the Pavement. This position is midway between what we call the North and South (columns). . It is here where the polarized energy pours forth from the ‘above’. It is a very powerful and ominous place. The forces of positive and negative are kept in tight abeyance here, and this tension can be felt at all times, especially during initiations, etc.
I decided that masonically I would have to place this Sephira at the Alter on the Pavement. This position is midway between what we call the North and South (columns). . It is here where the polarized energy pours forth from the ‘above’. It is a very powerful and ominous place. The forces of positive and negative are kept in tight abeyance here, and this tension can be felt at all times, especially during initiations, etc.