c. 1999 Frater Zalanes
[Note: This essay presumes familiarity with the English Qaballa; please click here if this system is new to you, or you would like a "refresher."]
The rhombicuboctahedron is the semi-regular platonic solid, which, when its 26 planes are folded out two-dimensionally, can be assigned the 26 letters of the English Alphabet in an EQ array. This being done, it becomes a New Aeon Symbol (AL II,55), a stylized caduceus upon which is emblazoned the Order and Value of the EQ. When folded back upon itself, its structure is canonized by a sophisticated geometric permutation (as well as sigilization) of the established gematria of EQ.
It must be kept in mind that this rhombicuboctahedron is see-through, upon which all the letters are visible in their positions as is according to their respective planes; it is now a crystal in which all the letters are seen at once as one turns it.
Here are a few preliminary notes on some correspondences. The letter A is attributed to Air (Aleph), and M to Water (Mem). These two attributions are traditional. Less conventional, but with reasons1, W is attributed to Fire (becauseof it's recognizable Shin shape), and the letter I to Earth (the I shape being an axis or Axis Mundi, I for Iron, etc., and for its relation to the other three). The triangle is the traditional symbol used to depict Fire, Water, Air, and Earth in different ways. Each of the four letters, A,M,W,I have two triangles (or planes) of correspondence on the Rhombi-Caduceus. Thus, the F and T planes are Water triangles on each side of M. The H and R planes are Air triangles under the A. D and N are Fire triangles under the W. P and B are Earth triangles on each side of I. These correspondences are demonstrably supported by twenty-four isometric 3D views of the triangles, wherein when ones line of sight is looking directly at one of these particular views, the Fire and Water, or Air and Earth triangles form the "Seal of Solomon". It must be kept in mind that the newly formed rhombicuboctahedron is a see-through, or "wireframe" upon which all the letters are visible.
There are no redundant overlaps, or "adverse" aspects, such as Fire over Earth. Such disparities are dealt with as seen on the 2D Rhombi-Caduceus where the Unicursal Hexagrams are between the diparate Elements and balanced on the scales of Libra. Now on the 3D rhombicubotahedron there is no "up" or "down", so Fire is not a "descending" triangle, Water "ascending", etc. There are 24 possible isometric views (eight triangles, three sides each - as long as we stay clear of 4D thinking! - to each) which yield a six-rayed star, so it is clear there is no up or down. The letters, however, retain the position in which they were placed on the Rhombi-Caduceus (R-C).
Now regarding the earlier mention of the unicursal hexagram on the Rhombi-Caduceus, there are some things to further delineate. On each side of Libra (the J plane) is the New Aeon six-rayed star, being on the Y and U planes, for in the R-C's unfolded 2D mode they are between the disparate, or "adverse" elemental planes along the spine of the caduceus. The Y is between AHR (Air) and MFT (Water), while the U is between WDN (Fire) and IPB (Earth). These opposite Elements, when combined are symbolic of the continual flux of Creation and Dissolution, or Chaos as a positive Force. Thus Y is Aeon (Time) and U is Universe (Space) balanced on the scales of Libra. There may be a question as to why the Z and V planes are not in these Elemental attributions (being, after all, between HR and DN), but they are separately considered since they are on the the horizontal Zodiacal arm. This arm, OZKVG = 45 = HORUS.
In the Sepher Yetzirah, the Hebrew Alphabet (Alefbet) are called "twenty-two Foundation Letters: He placed them in a circle like a wall with 231 Gates." In NAEQ 231 = circumference. The Kabbalists placed the 22 letters in a circumference and connected the 22 letters to one another. This creates the 231 Gates. The word "circle" in the SY can also be translated as "sphere", and applying the 26 letters of the English Alphabet to a sphere and then assigning a plane to each letter whereby the planes are connected by mutual vertices gives us two geometric 26 sided semi-regular platonic solids. One is the truncated cuboctahedron, and the other is the rhombicuboctahedron.
For the reasons above, it is clear the rhombicubotahedron, not the t.c. is the bride of the EQ, though the t.c may indeed be proven valuable. Now as the Hebrew letters yield 231 Gates, the English affords us 325 Gates, 94 extra lines. The placement of the letters on the planes is a matter of basic English rules which is read and written from left to right, going from top to bottom, while the letters themselves are in their EQ order. Perhaps the HAD order may be used (the order the letters are found in the Book of the Law - h,a,d,t,e, etc...). There are other possibilities to ordering the letters (from bottom to top for example), however, the overwhelming gematrical correspondence seems to lie in the "natural" order.
Now the 2D mode, the Caduceus, reveals further practical and self-vindicating attributes of the placement of the letters. This is dealt with in two sections below.
THE RUNES
The vowels A,E,I,O,U = 73 = Runes in NAEQ attribution. On the R-C, the vowels twist around and up the spine of the "111 Column"2 in the middle. This placement is not mere chance - each row and column of connected squares has a vowel assigned to it. Among the Jewish Kabbalists, the use of the vowels was integral in their study of the Sefer Yetzirah, and by permutation were the means for certain spiritual practices. Kaplan writes, "The usual procedure is to take a pair of letters, pronouncing them with the twenty five possible combinations of the five vowels. This appears in the system of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia, as well in various techniques of making a Golem."
The order for vowels on the Caduceus is E,I,U,O,A and vice versa running backwards. If the order is run starting with O on the main arm - or O,A,E,I,U - then a parallel is struck with Abulafia's system, as this was his exact ordering of the vowels. Kaplan, however, states that there was (and is) confusion among the Kabbalists as to the order of the vowels.
On the Rhombi-Caduceus, however, the order is unmistakable. As to which letter is "first" in that order, however, they all are. This is seen by, again, folding the Caduceus into the rhombicuboctahedron and observing that the Serpent of Runes on the Caduceus now becomes an Orouboros3, swallowing his own tail, his head cycling through the vowels in their series. A close study of the Sefer Yetzirah in connection with the R-C would be helpful in discovering more about the vowels.
THE NUMBERS
The main arm on the R-C is called the Arm of Horus, OZKVG = 45 = Horus. The main column that runs down the middle of the Holy R-C and divides it, LSKCJQXE, adds to 111. 111 = division, and is a significant number for many other reasons. The number 156 is the number calculated on the cross of the zodiac on the R-C if both the vertical and horizontal are counted each and then added together. In other words, counting across and then again, counting down. The K square (Cancer) would be twice counted since it is common to both, being the intersection. Yet there are only 12 signs, and interestingly, 156 ascribed as 1+5+6 =12 (signs). Counting the 12 zodiacal planes in one counting, the total is 147, from which also 1+4+7 = 12. This is a double assurance that the 12 zodiacal correspondences are correct. But there is also precedence for the particular placement of these signs in the cross shape within the Golden Dawn tradition. The cross of twelve squares with the zodiac is one of the admission badges used in the grade of Philosophus, and admits to the path of Qoph, or the 29th Path.
Some other interesting numbers:
diameter = 137 = ultimate, worshipped.
radius = 64 = line, light
A radius is a "LINE", the diameter its "ULTIMATE" length. AL III,47 "Then this line drawn is a key: then this circle squared in its failure is a key also." key = 49 = 7x7 = solve. Also, 49 = pi. "this line drawn" = 156 = everywhere, genetrix. (See above regarding the appearance of this number on the zodiac planes.)
key also = 64 = line, light, radius.
globe, a key also = 65, 6+5=11
this circle = 144 = 12x12 (remember the two twelves derived from the numbers 156 and 147 by two countings of the 12 zodiac squares).
circle = 88
The word for circle in Hebrew (galgal) can also be translated as sphere. Galgal = 28 = holy. Thus, at times, the 2D R-C is called the Holy Rhombi-Caduceus to signify it's inherent spherical nature.
The number 666 is found several places, and no doubt AC would have been impressed with the connection. The numerical difference between same-planed numbers going up and down the sides of the R-C reveals 666 and 8 twice. Beginning with the squared planes on the left, the difference between 7 and 1 (first 6), between 15 and 21 (second 6), then to the right, between 23 and 17 (third 6), and between 11 and 3 is found the 8. The same can be found with the triangled planes starting at the top right - again, 666 and 8 are the numbers.
The Tau's
In all, there may be over twenty "T" or Tau shapes on the R-C. One "T" which stands out is the inner Tau, central to the Caduceus. It is formed by the Z,K,V planes being its upper arm, and the C,J,Q being the lower shaft of the Tau. The numerical value of these planes is 75. 75 also equals BEAST and CUBE. Both words are uniquely relevant in this circumstance. The word BEAST, it has been suggested, has a hidden meaning, which is "Be as T", or "Be as Tau". Perhaps more astonishing is the next word CUBE, specifically in relation to its number, 75, being found on six perfectly square planes in the shape of a T. For by folding these planes a perfect CUBE is formed! This cube is concealed within the greater structure of the R-C. Again, conceal = 75. The number of cubes within the entire structure: 11 (six "calvary crosses", five "Tau's").
Also, 75 = count, reveal, stone, cavern, indwell, force, shapen, abide, manyhood, issue, union, city, falsehood, symbols, Osiris, factor, reveal, closing, spread (closing the cube; unclose it and the Tau is spread, revealed).
Another Tau is the upper Tau formed by the upper arm of A,L,W and the lower shaft of S,K,C. The numerical value to this T is 33 = fold, which, if we fold these planes, a cube is formed! The above two cubes are interlaced on the R-C, and has great import, but is beyond the scope of this introduction. It ties into the idea of the altar. Also, 33 = wholly, grow, HEH. There are 12 cubes on the R-C. There are 7 "cross" cubes and 5 "tau" cubes. The two "central tau's are each numerated at 75. Below is a list of the 12 cubes and where to find them.
From cross shapes -
OZKVSC - 52____
ZKVGSC - 56 } These three cubes contain no vowels. Together, their value is 161
LSKCZV - 47 }------ = CUBICAL STONE. (Liber Tau vel Kabbalae)
JCKSZV - 61 ____}
KCJQYU - 89
XQJCYU - 102
JQXEMI - 126
From T shapes -
ALWSKC - 33
SKCJYU - 75
CJQXMI - 114
EXQJYU - 114
QJCKZV - 75
It is important to make clear the EQRC (Engish Qaballa Rhombi-cuboctahedron/Caduceus) is not a "Tree of Life" diagram. It is one of perhaps dozens of the "new symbols" the BoTL instructs to be found in which to attribute the order and value of the English Alphabet, AL II,55. Other work based on this, or evolved from this will surely be developed. The actual importance of these particular "symbols" will be for other researchers to judge.
1. They have the half, unite by thine Art.
3. "Ouroboros was and is the name for the Great World Serpent, encircling the earth. Its form suggests immobility with its locked jaws upon itself, yet at the same time it pushes the insistent message of perpetual movement through its twined coils. self-fecundation; disintegration and re-integration; truth and cognition complete; the Androgyne(see below); the primaeval waters; the potential before the spark of creation; the undifferentiated; the Totality; primordial unity; self-sufficiency, and the idea of the beginning and the end as being a continuous unending principle. It represents the conflict of life as well in that life comes out of life and death. 'My end is my beginning.' In a sense life feeds off itself, thus there are good and bad connotations which can be drawn. It injects life into death and death into budding life. It is a single image with the entire actions of a life cycle - it begets, weds, impregnates, and slays itself, but in a cyclical sense, rather than linear. It has a strong relation to what is known as the Androgyne. The androgyne is the united male and female principles together. This is the prime primordial end to human endeavour, the reunion which births totality and creation. It is not unlike the idea of androgyny, which is a duality complete. "A return to wholeness." (Taken from article "Of Androgyne: The Serpent Ouroboros by Chris Aynesworth.)
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This is an original work by Frater Zalanes that has been placed on the Web for public use. Frater Zalanes may be reached at Zalanes@aol.com. You may share it, copy it, print it, etc., so long as this copyright notice is shared, copied, printed, etc., along with it.