THE TIME FACTOR IN KABALISM
Every system of Kabalism employs numbers in a symbolical sense, and
attributes to them a significance as if they were causative factors.
This is legitimate from the point of view of a philosophy that regards
the Universe as Symbol. In such a scheme every cosmical factor assumes a
symbolical value, according to its ratio in the sum of things, and each
of the planets may thus be symbolized either as deities invested with
attributes and virtues of a distinctly human nature, or yet may be
expressed in terms of numerical values, quantities, colours, forms, and
sounds.
But in all such systems the symbolism employed must finally submit to a
mathematical expression, which, indeed, is the test of its truth, for as
has been very wisely said, we have reason to suspect all statements of
fact which are not capable of a mathematical expression. In this
connection the Time factor becomes of the highest importance in
Kabalism, and since the matter lies in the region of debate, something
may be said in this place that may prove of value.
In my Kabala of Numbers and elsewhere I have repeatedly pointed out the
fallacy of those systems which ignore the cosmic factors, which alone
give symbolism its coherence. Nobody can reasonably ascribe any specific
sound or numerical value to a planet, or any influence to any part of
the heavens or to any period of time without having regard to some
cosmical factor as the basis of the system to which these planetary or
time significations belong.
Yet I find that such systems are all too prevalent, and that in some
glaring instances they assume a factor as the basis of the system, and
straightway set about to argue it out of existence. Thus it is stated in
one small manual intended for the use of those studying the mysteries of
sound and number, that it is “essential to have _an accurate knowledge
of the time of the rising of the sun_ at places on particular days,” and
the “simple method” of doing this, according to its author, is to “take
the sunrise from any reliable almanac ... and add to it for western
longitude at the rate of four minutes per degree, and subtract for
eastern longitude at the same rate, and _you have the mean local time of
sunrise_.”
How far this is from the truth any tyro in astronomy will readily
perceive. Yet when the error was pointed out to this would-be exponent
of the “Mysteries,” instead of being gratefully accepted as a piece of
good information which could be utilized in future publications, the
unlucky critic was most thoroughly abused, and the matter being finally
referred to the authorities at the Greenwich Observatory, it was clearly
shown that the critic was right and the author of the “simple method”
wrong in every case. The repetition of these errors in subsequent
publications leaves one with no alternative but to conclude that either
the intricacies of apparent local sunrise are beyond him, or that their
introduction into his simple method of expounding the mysteries would
undermine his market by rendering the truth too difficult for popular
consumption.
Having already given the correct method of finding the local sunrise by
reference to ascensional differences, a process which involves nothing
more complex than adding two logarithms together, (tang. of Sun’s
declination, × tang. of the latitude of place), from which we derive the
ascensional difference (sine log.), and comparing the result with that
due to the latitude of Greenwich. I need not waste space on the matter
in these pages. But it may be pointed out for the benefit of those who
wish to base their calculations of the planetary periods and sub-periods
on the correct value of apparent sunrise, that the equation of time at
the rate of four minutes for every degree applies only to meridian
transit in Right Ascension, and has no connection with the equation by
ascensional difference due to the latitude of the place. In fact, to
find local sunrise it is absolutely necessary to take notice of “seasons
and latitudes of places,” and so long as these are ignored so long will
the mysteries of sound and number which depend on calculations made from
time of sunrise remain “hidden mysteries” in fact as well as name.
By way of illustrating the inaccuracy and futility of the “simple
method” of finding sunrise, I may take an illustration that is actually
given by its inventor.
“For instance, the sun rises at Greenwich at 4.50 on the 23rd April,
1912, and we want to know the local sunrise at Epsom. All we have to do
is to add the equivalent of 0° 17´ (which is nearly one fourth of a
degree), 1 minute to that amount. The local sunrise at Epsom is,
therefore, 4.51,” which for all practical purposes it is, since Epsom is
on the same, or approximate, latitude as Greenwich. But when it is
further said that the local time of sunrise is 4.48 at Newmarket on the
same day, in the name of holy Science we must demur.
The sun’s declination at 4.50 on April 23rd is 12° 24´, which, referred
to the latitude of Greenwich, gives an ascensional difference of 1 hr. 4
min. 12 sec., and to the latitude of Newmarket 1 hr. 6 min. 0 sec., the
difference of these being 1 min. 48 sec., so that if the two places were
on the same meridian the sun would rise on Newmarket at this time of the
year nearly two minutes before it rises on Greenwich. But Newmarket is
0° 24´ east of Greenwich, and therefore it would further advance the
time by 1 min. 36 sec., and taking the two factors into account we have
for latitude and longitude combined 3 min. 24 sec. by which the sun
rises on April 23rd sooner than at Greenwich, the mean time being some
seconds before 4.47 a.m. Had a more northerly place been taken it could
be shown that the discrepancy is proportionately greater, and in fact at
the summer solstice the sun rises on Liverpool only 1 minute after it
rises on Greenwich, although the former place is 11 min. 52 sec. west
longitude, or 2° 58´, while at York it actually rises before it does at
Greenwich.
Therefore I would urge that a kabalism that has reference to the cosmic
factor of the sun’s rising would be more effectually serviceable than it
is known to be if regard were had to the truth. A system that is based
on error cannot be true in its structure, and this fact will account for
the constant falling of bricks upon the hapless heads of those who enter
the portals of this pseudo-scientific structure, where everything is at
sixes and sevens, making unlucky thirteens, and where you have
difficulty in distinguishing Hermes from Aphrodite, on account of their
exchange of clothes.
Similarly, it is no use instituting a system of Kabalism that depends on
the position of the sun at the birth of a person, and forthwith giving
illustration of the system by means of births that are recorded in Old
Style, which involves a difference of ten degrees in the sun’s
longitude. Yet I have seen this done by sober-minded Kabalists, and
illustrations of it exist in current works on the subject of Numerology.
A system, of whatever nature, must be consistent in itself and must
depend for its integrity upon a cosmical factor, otherwise it can only
be described as a conglomerate of detached observations, which, being
brought together cannot by any chance lay claim to the title of a
system. In another section of this work I shall be able to show what was
the origin of the various sounds attributed to the planets, and how the
Mantravidya of the Brahmins of India has passed into the hands of
Mohammedans and others, who have exploited it for their own purposes
without reference to its origin. I shall also be able to show the
astronomical basis of the various periods and sub-periods of the
planets, including the famous trims’amsha, or “four minute period” which
has played such an egregious part in the furtherance of a popular
delusion.
Let me here say that a Kabalism is not a mere play upon figures, nor is
it a system which arises by necessity from our system of enumeration as
some have sought to prove. It is fundamentally an expression of some
cosmical law, whether it be that of planetary periods, or other
divisions of time instituted by us from observation of certain cosmic
factors, or yet the laws of crystallization, which involve the fact of
form in relation to sound vibrations. Thus we may have a lunar kabalism
depending on the numbers 4, 7 and 28, another of the same nature
depending on the numbers 3, 9, and 27: another solar kabala which arises
from the numbers 18, 54, and 72. If those who seek to show that the
decimal system was originated by the use of the ten fingers, called
“digits,” would only have the patience to examine their theory, they
would find that the facts are entirely against them. For if counting on
the fingers reduced men to the decimal system, this system should be
prevalent among the aboriginal peoples. It is, however, an ugly fact for
the theorists that the very first system of enumeration that we come
across is the duodecimal system of the Chinese and the Hebrews.
In the first place we find that the Chinese had twelve signs or months,
each of thirty days, which was the antediluvian value of the year,
afterwards rectified (2355 B.C.) by the intercalation of seven months in
the course of nineteen years. The cycle of years was twice 60, or 120,
arising out of the employment of ten roots and twelve branches. They
appointed four chiefs to command the four gates or cardinal points and
elected Twelve Patriarchs to govern local affairs. The duodecimal
standard was instituted very early in the civilization of the Yellow
Empire, as is evident from the Canon of Shun, wherein weights and
measures were regulated by the Yellow Tube standard. This yellow tube
was nine-tenths of a Chinese inch in bore circumference, and nine inches
in length. It contained twelve hundred grains of millet which weighed
twelve pennyweights, two pennyweights going to the ounce, sixteen ounces
to the pound, thirty pounds to the quarter, and four quarters to the
hundredweight. Thus the basis of the whole system of weights was
regulated by sound, for there were twelve tubes, each of the same
circumference but of different lengths, and these being struck gave the
twelve notes of the Chinese musical gamut. The measures of length and
capacity were also regulated by these tubes, and thus sound was at the
root of all the Chinese mensuration. The fact that there were twelve
sounds in the scale shows that the whole system was duodecimal.
The Hebrew system was also duodecimal, for we find that they had twelve
months in the year answering to the twelve Gates of the Sun, such as
those of Gaza (Capricorn) and Hebron (Cancer), which are mentioned in
connection with the feats of Samson, the original of the Greek Hercules
and obviously a Sun-god. The twelve tribes were formed upon the basis of
the zodiacal circle, and are so referred to in Jacob’s last prophetic
blessing, where the sons of the Patriarch are distinctly associated with
the astrological portents of the twelve Signs.
Reuben—Taurus, the first sign of the Hebrew zodiac, connected with the
constellation Orion and the letter Aleph (Bull). This tribe has often
been associated with Aquarius, despite the fact that astrologically
speaking it is not a watery sign, but belongs to the airy trigon.
“Unstable as water,” is a figure of speech that has no reference to the
astrological functions of the sign Aquarius.
Simeon and Levi—Gemini and Cancer. The Levitical sign Cancer.
Judah—Leo, “the old lion,” couchant. The regal sign Leo.
Zebulon—Virgo associated with Argos, the ship.
Issachar—Libra, “servant of tribute.”
Dan—Scorpio, associated with Serpentarius, “an adder in the path.”
Gad—Sagittarius, the trooper. The sign of Jupiter or “Gad.”
Asher—Capricornus.
Napthali—Aquarius, associated with the Tree, “who yieldeth goodly
branches.” Here the “hind let loose” should be “the spreading oak.”
Joseph—Pisces, “the fruitful vine by the well.”
Benjamin—Aries, “the wolf,” connected with Anubis of the Egyptian
symbology.
Thus the Hebraic system is found to be duodecimal also, and we follow
suit in keeping our standards on this basis, counting twelve inches to
the foot, and twelve pence to the shilling. Indeed, there can be little
doubt that the ancients modelled their conceptions and established their
standards “after the pattern of things in the heavens.” By common
consent they instituted the Four Quarters arising out of the apparent
motion of the Sun, in its daily rising, culminating, setting and
decumbiture, and its apparent transit of the equinoxes and solstices. By
common consent also they had regard to the twelve signs of the zodiac,
and their corresponding months, the lunar asterisms or stations arising
out of the mean diurnal motion of the moon, and other points and
divisions of time, such as the syzyges and quadratures of the moon. All
these became standards from which all calculations were made, and hence
all kabalism, as derived from these cosmic phenomena, has a basis in
fact which can only be appreciated when the cosmical factors employed
are fully understood and appreciated. Hence I say that the time factor,
in Kabalism is of the utmost importance.