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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
ON THE NUMBER 451
(The true nature of the A.`. A.'.)
Publication in Class B
ORDO ARGENTUM ASTRUM
Anthra Andromda
The number is a very interesting one indeed. Originally suggested by
David Cherubim, in connection with the "true" meaning of the initials
A.`. A.'.. At first glance there doesn't seem to be much there...BUT!
451 = 4 + 5 + 1 = 10 = 1.
A glyph of the cycle. The monad starting its trek through experience
in the infinite body of Nuith and returning to this supreme Unity.
451 = ATh HADM. The essence of Man. Also Ath ADMH (a Temurah), The
essence of the attained Man.
ADMH also means "Red Earth" in the traditional sense. However, there
is a rather 'new' qabalistic operation at work here, that of fusing or
synthesis.That of two words joining to make a new one (or an old one)
with a new meaning. Here we have 'ADM' and 'MH'. Both words add to 45,
which may be a key to the way things are working here. ADM, Man and
MH, Yetzirah. In this case we have man identified with Yetzirah to
which he aspires. Crowley says of this number, "Thus 45 baffles the
accuser, but only by affirmation of progress. It cannot help that
progress."
Quite true, it baffles! ADMH is 50, and is "red earth". This would
seem to have little to do with the foregoing. However, consider this;
in the word ADMH we have the 'H' appended. This would place the number
five behind the Man, and would have the effect of giving him motion in
a forward direction (indicating progressive motion).
When the number 451 is divided by the number 51 (451/51) the result is
8.02. Perhaps not much here, but! The number 802 is twice that of 401
(essences) and is defined in 'Sepher Sephiroth' as; "401 X 2 = The
Reflection of 401, which is the (Th a), alpha and omega". It also
refers to the three grades of A.`. A.'. above the abyss. As to the
number 8.02; the number 8 is that of Ch = Chith = 418. And the 2
represents the 'extended' monad proceeding from the infinitely small
and un-extended point. Thus it is representative of the 'human' Star,
the true essences of Man that aspires to the higher, or in Enochian
terms; That Star (monad) that aspires, and is driven, to a higher
place in the hierarchy of the Universe. This is accomplished by the
motion imparted to it by the 'H' which gives the Star motion so that
it may gain in experience.
Now, 401 = 5 = Motion. And, 50 = 5 = Motion, and is also the 14th
letter of the Hebrew alphabet; Nun. The mystic number of 'Nun' is 300,
which is the number of the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet 'Sh'
Shin. Shin refers Yetziratically to fire, and is symbolic of the 'Holy
Spirit' and therefore is the letter and number of 'Spirit'. Spirit is
unmanifested energy, and matter is manifested energy (another pos-
sibility for the 2 of 8.02) which is, in a sense, the whole nature of
Man. This duality of man is shown in dual nature of his motion. The
401 which is the essences of his motion (the higher) and the 50 which
is the manifestation of this motion.
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CROWLEY'S ESSAY on MAN.
"The Mind of the Father riding on the subtle guiders which glitter
with the inflexible tracings of relentless fire." ZOROASTER.
MAN.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him?"
Man being the subject of these Essays, it is first proper to explain
what will be meant therein by the word.
Man is a microcosm: that is, an image (concentrated around the point
of consciousness) of the macrocosm, or Universe. This Theorem is
guaranteed by the hylo-idealistic demonstration that the perceptible
Universe is an extension, or phantasm, of the nervous system.
It follows that all phenomena, internal and external, may be
classified for the purpose of discussing their observed relations, in
any manner which experience may show to be the most convenient.
(Examples: the elaborate classifications of science, chemical, phys-
ical, etc., etc. There is no essential truth in any of these aids to
thinking: convenience is the sole measure.) Now for the purposes of
analysing the spiritual nature of man, of recording and measuring his
experiences in this kind, of planning his progress to loftier heights
of attainment, several systems have been devised. That of the Abhid-
hamma is on the surface alike the most practical, the most
scientific, and the most real; but for European students it is cer-
tainly far too unwieldly, to say nothing of other lines of criticism.
Therefore, despite the danger of vagueness involved in the use of a
system whose terms are largely symbolic, I have, for many reasons,
preferred to present to the world as an international basis for
classification, the classico-mathematical system which is vulgarly and
erroneously (though conveniently) called the Qabalah.
The Qabalah, that is, the Jewish Tradition concerning the initiated
interpretation of their Scriptures, is mostly either unintelligible or
nonsense. But it contains as it ground-plan the most precious jewel of
human thought, that geometrical arrangement of names and numbers which
is called the Tree of Life. I call it the most precious, because I
have found it the most convenient method hitherto discovered of
classifying the phenomena of the Universe, and recording their relat-
ions. Whereof the proof is the amazing fertility of thought which has
followed my adoption of this scheme.
Since all phenomena soever may be referred to the Tree of Life (which
may be multiplied or subdivided at will for convenience' sake) it is
evidently useless to attempt any complete account of it. The cor-
respondences of each unit -- the Ten Sephiroth and the Two-and-Twenty
Paths -- are infinite. The art of using it consists principally in
referring all our ideas to it, discovering thus the common nature of
certain things and the essential differences between others, so that
ultimately one obtains a simple view of the incalculably vast com-
plexity of the Universe.
1232
The whole subject must be studied in the Book 777, and the main
attributions committed to memory: then when by constant use the system
is at last understood -- as opposed to being merely memorized -- the
student will find fresh light break in on him at every turn as he
continues to measure every item of new knowledge that he attains by
this Standard. For to him the Universe will then begin to appear as a
coherent and a necessary Whole.
For the purpose of studying these Little Essays, it will be sufficient
if a bare outline of the Cosmic Theory which they imply be given: but
it may be added that, the fuller the comprehension of the Tree of Life
which the reader brings to them, the clearer will their thought
appear, and the more cogent their conclusions.
(1) Jechidah
This is the quintessential principle of the Soul, that which makes man
at the same time identical with every other spark of Godhead, and
different (as regards his point-of-view, and the Universe of which it
is the centre) from all others. It is a Point, possessing only posit-
ion; and that position is only definable by reference to co-ordinate
axes, to secondary principles, which only pertain to it per accidents,
and must be postulated as our conception grows.
(2) Chiah.
This is the Creative Impulse or Will of Jechidah, the energy which
demands the formulation of the co-ordinate axes aforesaid, so that
Jechidah may obtain self-realization, a formal understanding of what
is implicit in its nature, of its possible qualities.
(3) Neschamah.
This is the faculty of understanding the Word of Chiah. It is the
intelligence or intuition of what Jechidah wishes to discover about
itself.
These three principles constitute a Trinity; they are one, because
they represent the being, and apparatus which will make the manifest-
ation possible, of a God, in manhood. But they are only, so to speak,
the mathematical structure of man's nature. One might compare them
with the laws of physics as they are before they are discovered. There
are as yet no data by whose examination they may be discerned.
A conscious man, according, cannot possibly know anything of these
three principles, although they constitute his essence. It is the work
of Initiation to journey inwards to them. See, in the Oath of a
Probationer of A.`. A.'. "I pledge myself to discover the nature and
powers of my own Being."
This triune principle being wholly spiritual, all that can be said
about it is really negative. And it is complete in itself. Beyond it
stretches what is called The Abyss. This doctrine is extremely dif-
ficult to explain; but it corresponds more or less to the gap in
thought between the Real, which is ideal, and the Unreal, which is
actual. In the Abyss all things exist, indeed, at least in posse, but
are without any possible meaning; for they lack the substratum of
spiritual Reality. They are appearances without Law. They are thus
Insane Delusions.
1233
Now the Abyss being thus the great storehouse of Phenomena, it is the
source of all impressions. And the Triune Principle has intended a
machine for investigating the Universe; and this machine is the fourth
Principle of Man.
(4) Ruach
This may be translated Mind, Spirit, or Intellect: none of these is
satisfactory, the connotation varying with every writer. The Ruach is
a closely-knitted group of Five Moral and Intellectual principles,
concentrated on their core, Tiphareth, the Principle of Harmony, the
Human Consciousness and Will of which the four other Sephiroth are (so
to speak) the feelers. And these five principles culminate in a sixth,
Da(acu)ath, Knowledge. But this is not really a principle; it contains
in itself the germ of self-contradiction and so of self-destruction.
It is a false principle: for. as soon as Knowledge is analysed, it
breaks up into the irrational dust of the Abyss.
Man's aspiration to Knowledge is thus simply a false road: it is to
spin ropes of sand.
We cannot here enter into the doctrine of the "Fall of Adam," invented
to explain in parable how it is that the Universe is so unfortunately
constituted. We are concerned only with the observed facts.
All these mental and moral faculties of the Ruach, while not purely
spiritual like the Supernal Triad, are still, as it were, "in the
air." To be of use, they need a basis through which to receive impres-
sions, much as a machine requires fuel and fodder before it can
manufacture the article which it is designed to produce.
(5) Nephesch.
This is usually translated the "Animal Soul." It is the vehicle of the
Ruach, the instrument by which the Mind is brought into contact with
the dust of Matter in the Abyss, that it may feel it, judge it, and
react to it. This is itself a principle still spiritual, in a sense;
the actual body of man as composed of the dust of Matter, temporarily
held together by the Principles which inform it, for their own pur-
poses, and ultimately for the supreme purposes of self-realization of
Jechidah.
But Nephesch, devised as it is with no other object that the direct
traffic with Matter, tends to partake of its incoherence. Its facul-
ties of perceiving pain and pleasure lure it into paying undue atten-
tion to one set of phenomena, into shunning another. Hence, for the
Nephesch to do its work as it should, it requires to be dominated by
the severest discipline. Nor is the Ruach itself to be trusted in this
matter. It has its own tendencies to weakness and injustice. It tries
every trick -- and it is diabolically clever -- to arrange its busi-
ness with Matter in the sense most convenient to its inertia, without
the smallest consideration of its duty to the Supernal Triad,
cut off as that is from its comprehension; indeed, unsuspecting as it
normally is of its existence.
1234
What then determines Tiphareth, the Human Will, to aspire to
comprehend Neschamah, to submit itself to the divine Will of Chiah?
Nothing but the realization, born sooner or later of agonizing ex-
perience, that its whole relation through Ruach and Nephesch with
Matter, i.e.,with the Universe, is, and must be, only painful. The
senselessness of the whole procedure sickens it. It begins to seek for
some menstruum in which the Universe may become intelligible, useful
and enjoyable. In Qabalistic language, it aspires to Neschamah.
This is what we mean in saying that the Trance of Sorrow is the motive
of the Great Work.
This "Trance of Sorrow" (which must be well-distinguished from any
petty personal despair, and "conviction of sin," or other black
magical imitations) being cosmic in scope, comprehending all phenomena
actual or potential, is then already an Opening of the Sphere of
Neschamah. The awareness of one's misfortune is itself an indication
of the remedy. It sets the seeker on the right road, and as he devel-
ops his Neschamah he soon attains other Experiences of this high
order. Her learns the meaning of his own true Will, to pronounce his
own Word, to identify himself with Chiah.
Finally, realizing Chiah as the dynamic aspect of Jechidah, he becomes
that pure Being, at once universal and individual, equally nothing,
One, and All.
It is of the essence of the Ideas of the Supernal Triad that the Laws
of Reason which apply to intellectual functions are no longer oper-
ative. Hence it is impossible to convey the nature of these Experien-
ces in rational language. Further, their scope is infinite in every
direction, so that it would be futile to attempt to enumerate or to
describe them in detail. All that one can do is to note the common
types in very general language, and to indicate what experience has
shown to be the most useful main lines of research.
The Quest of the Holy Grail, the Search for the Stone of the
Philosophers -- by whatever name we choose to call the Great Work --
is therefore endless. Success only opens up new avenues of brilliant
possibility. Yea, verily, and Amen! the task is tireless and its joys
without bounds; for the whole Universe, and all that in it is, what is
it but the infinite playground of the Crowned and Conquering Child, of
the insatiable, the innocent, the ever-rejoicing Heir of Space and
Eternity, whose name is MAN?
In Enochian Physics Man is known as 'the monad', we shall discuss the
nature of the monad or 'Star' from the Enochian view.
MONAD MODEL.
In conjunctionwith theCosmic Planes andElements Model,
Enochian Physics proposes the Enochian Monad Model. These two models
are not meant to be independent, rather they are inclusive and are
only separated for convience.
1235
A monad isdefined asan indivisible unit(Hadit), but,is
used in the sense that a monad is the infinitely small conscious point
of every entity. The only difference between monads is experience.
Giordano Bruno taught that the monad was the ultimate spiritual
particle and that all entities had a monad at their center, the core
of their being. Every monad is monastic above the first Aethyr (LIL),
and is dualistic below. This duality takes many forms as the monad
manifests itself downward. Basically, it consists of a subjective
self in the center of an objective world. Figure 2 shows a pictorial
representation of this model.
000000000
0 0 INDIVISIBLE MONAD
0 monadic 0
0 essence 0
000000000
|
+-----------------------+
| ring-pass-not |
+-----------------------+
| LIL - first Aethyr
000000000
0 0 DUALIST Watchtowers
0 I 0 MONAD (Life-atom) |
0 0 |
000000000 <-- NOT-I (world) TIME
SPACE
FORM
FIG. 2
ENOCHIAN AXIOMS.
1. Man, and every entity (thing) in existence, is in his (its)
essence a monad. This monadic essence expresses itself as a
subjective 'I' and an objective 'NOT-I'.
2. A monad's geometric equivalent is the sphere. The center is
the 'I'. The surface of the sphere is the 'NOT-I'.
3. The 'I' is conscious individuality.
4. The 'NOT-I' is the world in which the 'I' finds itself at
any given point in time and space.
5. Everygeometric pointinspace isan 'I-NOT-I'monad in
some stage of self-expression.
6. Any'I'can communicatewith anyother 'I'onlyin sofar
as their 'NOT-I's' intersect.
7. A world is defined as a set of intersections of a host of
'NOT-I's' at any given point in time and space.
8. Subsets of 'I's' are mutually exclusive.
9. Subsets of 'NOT-I's' may be either exclusive or inclusive.
1236
10. The monadic essence of each monad allows multitudinous
expression, but no 'I' can ever separate itself from or
exist independently of its 'NOT-I'.
THEOREMS OF ENOCHIAN PHYSICS.
1. Every person is an 'I-NOT-I' monad.
2. Every point in space is a consciousness center.
3. Energy flows from one cosmic plane or sub-plane to an
adjacent cosmic plane or sub-plane through Laya centers,
dimensionless points of space which serve as channels for
the flow of energies and forces.
4.Spirit isunmanifested energy.Matter ismanifested
energy.
5. Every manifestation within space and time is dualistic.
6. Space, time, and consciousness come into existance
simultaneously.
7. Every energy field and every force in our universe is
directed by the True Will.
THE FORCES OF MAGICK.
There aresix Magickal forcesthat aremanifested inexis-
tance. These six forces, by necessity, manifest in dual triads, the
upper, and the lower.
THE UPPER TRIAD;
1.Divine Force. This is said to be the "Supreme Force"
relative to our universe. This so-called 'Supreme Force' is known as
'The TRUE WILL'. It is the 'Divine' driving force of Hadit.
2.CreativeForce.TheKundaliniofEasternthought,manifest-
ing, below the Abyss, as electromagnetic energy.
3.Thought Force.This isthe occultforce thatoften takes
the form of projection, and continually projects fundamental subjec-
tive ideas of the 'I' outward into the 'NOT-I'.
1237
THE LOWER TRIAD;
1.MindForce.Thisforceshouldproperlybecalled 'Intellec-
tual', and would be attributed to Mercury. This is the reasoning and
logical powers of the intelligent entity. This force also includes all
of the senses.
2.Will Force.Thisis thelowermanifestation ofthe'Divine
Force'. This force is what drives us in a physical sense, it is our
outer needs and desires. It is what most 'men' perceive as their
'will', however it is frequently the opposite side of the 'Will
Duality'.
3.Word Force.Wordsand Letters,speechand physicalaction
make up this aspect of the magickal forces. It is the power of sound,
which has long been known in the west. God is said to create by
uttering His Word. Consider this; some politicians are virtual masters
of this magickal force.
As can beseen thereis little realdifference betweenthe
Enochian view of man and that of the Thelemic Magician, with the main
differences being that of nomenclature. It can also be seen that the
six 'magical forces' generally correspond to the five divisions of man
as set forth by Crowley, with the exception of the sixth 'force'. This
extra point is comprised of the actions performed by the first five.
If we think of man as a hexagram, instead of a pentagram, we have the
four elements, spirit, and motion.
The elementsand spiritmakeup theessential man,but heis
still static. With the addition of the sixth, he becomes dynamic,
capable of experience. It is then this 'man' that has the 'essences of
man', for until he becomes dynamic by virtue of his motion, and gains
in experience, he is incapable of attainment.
As wasstatedabove, Man'saspirationis toahigher placein
the hierarchy of the universe. Here then are the Laws of Hierarchies,
they will show, though perhaps not directly, how this ascension
(attainment) is made possible.
HIERARCHIES
LawofHierarchies. Fromthe highestrealmsof spiritto the
lowest levels of matter, everything in between is composed of a host
of gods, monads or life atoms arranged in a myriad of hierarchies.
The following rules apply:
1.All aggregatesare composedof hierarchies.All things,
save Hadit, are aggregates. We see in our world complete structures,
which are composed of molecules, atoms, and sub-atomic particles in
one direction. And planets, solar systems, and galaxies in another.
Thus science has enabled us to see, on a mundane level, that our
physical universe is composed of some basic hierarchies. Though from
rules 3 and 4 we see that these hierarchies continue unto infinity.
1238
2.Foreveryhierarchy thereisagoverningruler orhierarch.
On our personal level we have that which is referred to as our Holy
Guardian Angel. Aswe descend to the atomic level, we have the >nuc-
leus< of the atom. Each component of that atom has, in turn, its own
hierarch. In our worldly governments we see examples of these hier-
archs; mayors, governors, presidents, etc. And we can begin to see our
place in the physical manifestation of these hierarchies. We are also
members of hierarchies on less physical, or spiritual levels, though
little is known of these.
3.Hierarchiesdescendinfinitelyintomatter.Again,fromour
'middle world, we see the manifestation of yet smaller structures or
hierarchies, which descend to the smallest particles which science is
able to see or theorize.
4.Hierarchiesascendinfinitelyinto spirit.Ontheselevels
little is known, science has or can not enter into the realm of
spirit. We do know, however, that our own personal hierarch is our
H.G.A., and that logically we are but a component part of some yet
higher structure or hierarchy.
5.The universehas ahierarchicalstructure, interlinking
groups of entities living and working together. If we look sky-ward we
can begin to see something of this structure on a physical level. Out
stellar universe is made up of planets, solar systems, stellar clust-
ers, galaxies, and on and on. While earth is not yet working with
other groups of entities on a stellar level (as
far as we are allowed to know), it is clear that we must share the
same stellar environment with others. We can, however, observe this
'working together' here on planet earth. We can see the governments of
cities, counties, states, and countries working toward what is per-
ceived as the common good (at least in most cases).
6.Hierarchies areborn,evolve, anddie.The bestexampleof
this, I think, is ourselves. We are born into this world, grow and
experience (evolve) over some period of time then die, this is all a
part of what we call 'life'. Other examples of this rule may be seen
in various extinct forms of animal life, which came into existance,
evolved over time, then died out. We can also see examples on the
stellar level, stars which are born from collections of gases, grow
and evolve into fiery furnaces, then die out.
7.Worlds arecreatedby hierarchiesof cosmicbuilders and
architects acting together.
8. Everyworld containshierarchies of recorderswho con-
stitute the forces of karmic history.
9. Thecosmic elementsand planesarecomposed ofcountless
hosts of evolving hierarchies.
Theselast tworules are forthe mostpart redundant(see 3
and 4 above); they serve to stress the fact that hierarchies do, in
fact, extend infinitely in all directions.
10. Every hierarchyis composedof a hostof smallerhier-
archies.
11. Every hierarchy is a component part of a larger hierarchy.
1239
Thuswehave theEnochianview onthe nature,place,and path
of Man. To better understand this mystery of the true meaning of A.`.
A.'. and this nature of man we may now look at some of the Temurahs of
the number 451.
These are;451, 415,541, 514,145, and154. Weshall start
with the least of these.
The number 145; InSepher Sephiroth it is definedas the
numerical value of the 13 paths of the Beard of Microprosopus.
Thenumber 154;Againfrom SepherSephiroth;it is'Elohimof
Loves', and we are referred to the number 149. The reference in 149 is
to 'The living GODS'.
Inthese two numbers we have references to Man and this
'Starry' nature. Though in the number 149 it is perhaps more direct.
'The living GODS', indeed, the most tangible link between man and GOD
is this 'Starry' essence. Both Man and ANY GOD that one cares to think
of are at the core one and the same, that is to say, that we are all
made of the same stuff, we are all MONADS at some level of evolution.
But, on we go.
Thenumber415;Still againfromSepherSephiroth. Thenumber
is that of the Voice of the Chief Seer and also 'The Holy One'.
Stillagainsubtle referencestothis 'Star'naturewhich we
have already examined.
The number 514and 541. Hereare references thatare abit
more obscure. 514 gives reference to 'KABBALA DENUDATA', a reference
that unfortunately I will have to pass on due to a mis-fortune beyond
my control. The number 541 refers to 'Israel', which at first may
seem strange, but, historically Israel is/are 'Gods' chosen people. We
may take this to mean 'Free Man' in the Thelemic sense. The number is
thus indicating Man, or rather those Men that have risen above the
slavery of the old aeon and have begun to ascend/aspire to Yetzirah.
Those Men who have realized some small part of their true essence.
So then! Just what he hell is the true meaning of the initials
A.`. A.'. and the number 451? It is no more and surely no less than
the MONAD! Though others may use different words and different systems
to explain this, their meaning will of necessity be the same.
1240