The Star in the West

THE MOTHER 143 1 lips of the age -worn Sphinx , is one-Rosa Inferni, Rosa Coeli , for that which is below is as that which is above . The latter has still to be published , but the petals of its bursting bud have already in many a fair verse made bright the pages of this essay . ' Twixt these twain we find Rosa Mundi , “ the keystone of the Royal Arch of Sex " : Single in love and aim , Double in form and name ,? that arch which rests on the two great pillars of Solomon's temple , black and white , and contrary , yet their power is one , for they are the limbs of God . “ Rosa Mundi ” stands before us crowned , naked , and wonderful . Neither Alice nor Archais , neither Ratoum nor Cora , neither Venus nor Isis , yet the woven filament of all these glowing petals into one flaming Rose of glory ; in whose sceptred - heart burns the white phallus of God , and whose jewelled crown is crimson with the lips of the passionate daughters of Men . Rose of the World ! Red glory of the secret heart of Love ! Red flame , rose - red , most subtly curled Into its own infinite flower , all flowers above ! Its flower in its own perfumed passion , Its faint sweet passion , folded and furled In flower fashion ; The Rose of Dew , the Rose of Love and Night , The Rose of Silence , covering as with a vesture The solemn unity of things Beheld in the mirror of truth , The Rose indifferent to God's gesture , The Rose on moonlight wings 1 Rosa Mundi , vol . iii , p . 52 . 2 Ibid . vol . iii , p . 54 .