SOME FURTHER KABALAS
Although it will be evident from the foregoing illustrations that a very
definite design lies at the root of the allotment of numbers to the
planets and the signs of the zodiac, yet the study of the subject would
hardly be complete without some reference to some other methods that I
have evolved or that are to be found hinted at but not expounded in the
writings of others. If, for instance, I were required to demonstrate the
fact that a certain method underlies the planetary numbers, I could do
so by reference to the Kabala of the number 9, and although in the
process I might have to concede the point that Jupiter and Venus are
interchangeable, I should still be warranted by my Kabala in affirming
that Mercury is not interchangeable with Mars, but that it is polarized
by the Sun, and that Mars is the alternative or opposite of the Moon.
Now this little Kabala, while itself very suggestive and capable of many
applications, has no cosmical basis, and therefore may be the occasion
of much disturbance, if carried beyond its legitimate domain.
It is only necessary to take the numerical sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, and centralize that number which answers to the planet whose
opposite you require.
Thus for Saturn, whose number is 8, we have the sequence—
Saturn
4567 8 9123
22 15
4 10 6
or 1
Sun (+)
For Jupiter the resolution is as follows—
Jupiter
8912 3 4567
20 22
2 4
6
Venus
For the Sun, whose positive number is 1, we have—
Sun
6789 1 2345
30 14
3 5
8
Saturn
For Venus, whose number is 6, the resolution is—
Venus
2345 6 7891
14 25
5 7
12
or 3
Jupiter
For the Moon, whose number is 7 positive, we get—
Moon
3456 7 8912
18 20
9 2
11
or 2
Moon
So that having found the alternate of Saturn 8 to be Sun 1, and that of
Venus 6 to be Jupiter 3, of the Moon 7 to be 2, it is quite easy to jump
to the conclusion that the alternate of Mars 9 must be Mercury 5, and
yet to get side-tracked on the very first trip. For observe what happens
in the resolution of Mars, number 9,
Mars
5678 9 1234
26 10
8 1
9
Mars
which, seems to inform us that, whereas all things may be reduced and
converted by Fire or the Will, neither consents to be converted. Herein
is the spirit of freedom that characterizes the fiery planet and those
that are born under its sway. We may now try Mercury, the universal
resolvent.
Mercury
1234 5 6789
10 30
1 3
4
Sun (-)
In antithesis we may set the number of the Sun negative 4.
Sun
9123 4 5678
15 26
6 8
14
or 5
Mercury
Here, by a curious refractoriness of disposition, Mercury is seen to be
resolvable only in terms of a negative Sun, the number 5 being set in
apposition to 4. The obvious suggestion to those who are engaged in the
hermetic art, should they happen upon this little kabalism, is that
Mercury is the one thing that we are able to convert into gold.
Now if we collect these resolutions we shall find that they are all in
terms of Mars or the number 9, whose position at the head of the scheme
indicates, as clearly as figures can tell us, that the Will is the
dominant factor in all human affairs.
Mars
9
Sun 4 5 Mercury
Jupiter 3 6 Venus
Saturn 8 1 Sun
2
Moon
7
Here we have Mars 9, Sun and Mercury 9, Jupiter and Venus 9, Saturn and
Sun 9, Moon (positive and negative) 9. Moreover, it is seen that the sum
of Sun, Jupiter and Saturn, 4 plus 3 plus 8, is 15, and that of Mercury,
Venus and Sun, 5 plus 6 plus 1, is 12. Then 15 plus 12 are 27, and the
unit value of this is again 9. It is further of interest to observe that
the only planets that are not convertible are Mars and the Moon, and
that at the head and foot of the scheme represent Fire and Water,
symbols of Spirit and Matter, the Will and the element of Variability,
one fixed and the other mutable. The numbers of the Moon are 2 and 7,
and these are equal in sum to 9.
To argue thence that we are justified in transposing Mercury with Mars
or Jupiter with Venus in any system that has a cosmical factor for its
basis is to argue from cosmos into chaos. The planetary numbers and
those of the zodiac were affixed by those who instituted the scheme, not
from any considerations of a fanciful nature, but on certain cosmical
principles which those who have thoroughly mastered the subject of
Numerology will find working out in all astrological practice. It is, of
course, allowable to use numbers in a symbolical manner after any order
that may suit our purpose, but to proceed from the time of sunrise by
progression through the planetary hours, and to violate the established
order of those hours by the introduction of a fictitious interchange of
factors, is an affront to the intelligence of every astrological student
and a violation of the principles of cosmic symbology that can only find
its karmic effects in a condition of mental chaos.
Another kabalism which employs the planetary factors has been in use for
some time by certain well-known students of interpretation, and is
principally applied to the predictive art. In this system the planets
hold the same numbers as those traditionally allotted to them.
The signs of the zodiac, however, do not follow the same rule, but take
the values that belong to their planetary rulers, as follows—
Aries 9, Taurus 6, Gemini 5, Cancer 7 or 2, Leo 1 or 4, Virgo 5, Libra
6, Scorpio 9, Sagittarius 3, Capricornus 8, Aquarius 8, Pisces 3.
These numbers are combined with those of the days of the week ruled by
the planets. Thus in the case of a person born on a Tuesday in the month
of November, the numbers are both 9, for Tuesday is ruled by Mars, whose
number is 9, and in November the Sun is in Scorpio, which again gives
the number 9. Hence those years in which the number 9 figures are
regarded as important in the production of great events.
The months and signs corresponding are thus valued:—January 8, February
8, March 3, April 9, May 6, June 5, July 7 and 2, August 1 and 4,
September 5, October 6, November 9 and December 3. But it should be
observed that, in order to keep in touch with the cosmical order, these
numbers are only to attach to the first 21 days of each month, the
number for the succeeding month being used for the last 10 or 11 days.
Similarly, the day counts from sunrise to sunrise according to some
authors, but cosmically it counts from noon to noon, that period from
noon to midnight being “the evening” and from midnight to noon “the
morning,” as it is said in Genesis, _Veyahi oreb veyahi beqer yom
echad_—“And the evening and the morning were the first day.”
Perhaps one of the most interesting Kabalas is that which has reference
to the values of the signs and planets when taken in combination. Each
of the months in the annual circle has a number attaching to it
according to the planet ruling the sign in which the Sun is, as already
shown above. This is multiplied into the number allotted to the sign
itself apart from its ruler. Thus—
Month Sign No. Ruler No. Product Unit
January Capricorn 3 Saturn 8 24 6
February Aquarius 2 Saturn 8 16 7
March Pisces 11 Jupiter 3 33 6
April Aries 7 Mars 9 63 9
May Taurus 6 Venus 6 36 9
June Gemini 12 Mercury 5 60 6
July Cancer 3 Moon 2 10 1
August Leo 1 Sun 1 1 1
September Virgo 10 Mercury 5 50 5
October Libra 8 Venus 6 48 3
November Scorpio 9 Mars 9 81 9
December Sagittary 4 Jupiter 3 12 3
It is then seen that the total value of the planets’ numbers is 65,
while the total of the unit values of the products is also 65. It is
satisfactory to find that wherever we are consistent and hold to the
traditional values and positions of the several factors, we obtain
results that are wonderfully harmonious and suggestive.
There is an ancient symbol known as the “Golden Candlestick” which is in
the nature of a candelabrum with seven arms. Each of the seven lights
answers to one of the seven celestial bodies known to the ancients, and
the order of them is that known as the Chaldean, in use among
astrologers. Here is the symbol—
[Illustration: Figure 15.]
It will be seen at once that the interchange of the planets is
confirmatory of the astrological method derived from the sign
rulerships. Saturn interchanges with the Moon, Jupiter with Mercury,
Mars with Venus, while the Sun stands in the centre of the system giving
light to all. These lights answer to the seven Rays, the seven Spirits
before the Throne, the seven Archangels, Cassiel, the keeper of
secrets—Saturn; Zadkiel, the spirit of Justice—Jupiter; Madimial, the
spirit of those who make Red—Mars; Michael, who is “like unto God”—Sun;
Haniel, the spirit of Splendour—Venus; Raphael, the spirit of
Healing—Mercury; and Gabriel, the spirit of Strength—Moon.
In connection with this symbol there is another which affords several
glyphs in combination. It is called the Seven-pointed Star and Star of
the Universe. A star of seven points being drawn, the planetary bodies,
the Sun and Moon, are placed round it in the Chaldean order, the Sun
being at the highest point, thus—
[Illustration: Figure 16.]
It is then found that the Sun holds the unique position of supreme
elevation, while the “pairs of opposites,” Venus and Mars, Mercury and
Jupiter, Moon and Saturn, are functioning on successively lower planes.
By starting with the first day of the week, Sunday, at the point of the
Sun and following the lines of the Star, we shall derive the days of the
week in their order, namely, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus
and Saturn. By reading from Mars and taking every alternate planet, we
get the order of the atomic weights of the metals to which the ancients
ascribed these planets; namely, Iron, Copper, Silver, Tin, Gold, Mercury
and Lead. This fact seems strongly to support the view that there is a
very real connection between the planets and the metals referred to them
by the ancients, for while it is fairly certain that they did not know
anything about atomic weights, they very clearly associated the
celestial bodies with the primary metals, and the fact that they are
brought into line through the apparent velocities of the several bodies
of the solar system seems to afford a suggestive basis for further
inquiry. We all are used to speaking of the “golden” sun and the
“silver” moon, and we also speak in terms of cosmic symbolism when we
refer to an “iron” will, or of “steeling” oneself against a danger, for
Mars is the astrological index of the Will, and the uses of steel and
iron are for defence and offence. In the name of Mercury we have
actually retained the ancient name associated with the metal, although
the root of it is _merx_, trade, and has no direct associations with
quicksilver. But we pick up the link of connection through the known
association of Mercury with trade and shipping, and when we see the
winged messengers or trading vessels carrying their burden of foreign
goods from one country to another, we understand why Mercury was called
the Interpreter, for in astrology the planet Mercury is the symbol of
commerce, and it “confers the gift of tongues.” Pliny says that copper
was first discovered in Cyprus, from which it gets its name, and,
according to astrologers from the time of Ptolemy until now, the sign
Taurus, one of the signs of Venus, rules Cyprus. This sidelight is of
interest, displaying as it does the universality of planetary dominions.
Copper, of course, was in use before Cyprus had been named or exploited,
but it is of interest to observe that a copper-bearing territory, which
has given the metal a name in the West, should be found both
traditionally and experimentally to be under the dominion of the planet
Venus, which the ancients associated with that metal. Lead, which is
named in connection with Saturn, the Lunar alternative, has been spoken
of by some of the old Hermetists as a disease of the Moon, and it is
suggested that the “sick Lady” took a bad turn at a certain point in her
career, and instead of appearing in shining silver robes, put on those
of leaden grey. It is worthy of note that silver ore is frequently found
in lead, and silver has been successfully extracted from lead since
1829, when Pattinson developed his useful process.
Before leaving this subject of Kabalas connected with planetary numbers,
it may be well to point out that the Kabala displayed in the beginning
of this chapter may also be applied to the Chaldean order of the planets
and their numbers, yielding the same results.
Chaldean Order of Planets and their Numbers
Saturn 8, Jupiter 3, Mars 9, Sun 1-4, Venus 6, Mercury 5, Moon 7-2. From
these we get the following resolutions—
Sun
839 1 6572
20 20 ☉
2 2
4
Sun
Saturn
6572 8 3914
20 17 ♄
2 8
10
1
Sun
Jupiter
5728 3 9146
22 20 ♃
4 2
8
Venus
Mars
7283 9 1465
20 16 ♂
2 7
9
Mars
Venus
3914 6 5728
17 22 ♀
8 4
12
3
Jupiter
Mercury
9146 5 7283
20 20 ☿
2 2
4
Sun
Moon
1465 7-2 839
16 20 ☽
7 2
9
Mars
In the above resolutions we have, as before, Mercury in apposition to
the Sun (negative), and the Moon in apposition to Mars. Now, to find a
cosmical basis for this order of things, we shall have to refer to the
“exaltations” of the planets as defined by astrology. Thus, beside the
particular Signs ruled by the planets, there are others in which the
planets are said to be exalted.
The exaltation of the Sun is in Aries, while that of Saturn is in Libra.
These two bodies are seen to be interchangeable. The exaltation of Venus
is in Pisces, which is the Sign of Jupiter. But Jupiter’s exaltation is
in Cancer, which is the Sign of the Moon, and the Moon has its
exaltation in Taurus, which is the Sign of Venus. Thus Jupiter and Venus
are rendered interchangeable through, and in the period of, the Moon.
The three planets, Moon, Jupiter and Venus, have their exaltations in
Taurus, Cancer and Pisces, and these are ruled by Venus, Jupiter and the
Moon respectively. Mercury, whose exaltation is Aquarius, a Sign of
Saturn, is thereby linked up with the Sun through the opposite Sign Leo,
which the Sun rules. A short study of the following Table of Exaltations
will make these interchanges plain.
Planetary Exaltations
Saturn exalted in Aries, a sign ruled by Mars.
Jupiter exalted in Cancer, ruled by the Moon.
Mars exalted in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn.
Sun, exalted in Aries, ruled by Mars.
Venus exalted in Pisces, ruled by Jupiter.
Mercury, exalted in Aquarius, ruled by Saturn.
The planet Mars, therefore, is linked up with the Moon through Saturn,
which rules the sign in which Mars is exalted. Much else might be said
regarding planetary numbers and Kabalas depending thereon, but it is,
perhaps, advisable that some margin should be left for the exercise of
the reader’s ingenuity, should he wish to pursue the subject further. I
will therefore turn to the consideration of another aspect of the same
subject.