97
Here is another
parable.
Peter,
the Stone
of
the Philosophers,
cuts
off the ear of Malchus,
the
servant
of the High
Priest
(the
ear
is
the
organ
of Spirit).
In
analysis
the
spiritual
part
of Malkuth
must
be
separated
from
it by
the
philosophical stone,
and
then
Christus,
the
Anointed One,
makes it whole
once more.
''Solve
et coagula!"
It
is
noticeable
that
this takes place
at
the
arrest of Christ,
who
is
the son, the Ruach, immediately
before his crucifixion.
The Calvary
Cross
should
be of six squares, an unfolded
cube, which
cube is this same philosophical stone.
Meditation will reveal
many
mysteries
which
are concealed
in
this
symbol.
The
Sword
or
Dagger
is
attributed
to
air, all-wandering,
all-pene-
trating,
but unstable;
not a phenomenon
subtle
like fire, not a chemical
combination
like water, but a mixture
of gases.'
The Sword,
necessary
as it is to the Beginner,
is but a crude weapon.
' The Oxygen
in the air would
be too fierce for life ; it must be largely diluted with
the inert nitrogen.
The rational
mind
supports
life,
but
about
seventy-nine
per cent,
of it
not only
refuses itself
to enter
into
combination,
but prevents the remaining
twenty-one
per
cent, from
doing
so.
Enthusiasms
are checked;
the intellect
is the great
enemy of
devotion.
One
of the tasks of the
Magician
is to manage
somehow
to separate the
Oxygen
and
Nitrogen
in his
mind,
to stifle
four-fifths
so that
he may burn
up the
remainder,
a flame of holiness.
But this cannot be done by the Sword.
H