The Divine Pymander of Hermes in 17 Chapters, Introduction

February 12, 2020 by Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila in Hermetic Alchemy, Lessons, Meditation, The Mysteries | Leave a comment

JUDICIOUS READER,

This Book may justly challenge the first place for antiquity, from all the Books in the World, being written some hundreds of years before Moses his time, as I shall endeavour to make good. The Original (as far as is known to us) is Arabic, and several Translations thereof have been published, as Greek, Latin, French, Dutch, etc., but never English before. It is pity the Learned Translator [Dr. Everard] had not lived, and received himself, the honour, and thanks due to him from the Englishmen for his good will to, and pains for them, in translating a Book of such infinite worth, out of the Original, into their Mother-tongue.

Concerning the Author of the Book itself, Four things are considerable, viz., His Name, Learning, Country, and Time.

1. The name by which he was commonly styled, is Hermes Trismegistus, i.e., Mercurius ter Maximus, or, The thrice greatest Intelligencer. And well might he be called Hermes, for he was the first Intelligencer in the World (as we read of) that communicated Knowledge to the sons of Men, by Writing, or Engraving. He was called Ter Maximus, for some Reasons, which I shall afterwards mention.

2. His Learning will appear, as by his Works; so by the right understanding the Reason of his Name.

3. For his Country, he was King of Egypt.

4. For his Time, it is not without much Controversy, betwixt those that write of this Divine, ancient Author, what time he lived in. Some say he lived after Moses his time, giving this slender Reason for it, viz., Because he was named Ter Maximus: for being preferred [Franciscus Flussas] (according to the Egyptian Customs) being chief Philosopher, to be chief of the Priesthood: and from thence, to be chief in Government, or King. But if this be all their ground, you must excuse my dissent from then, and that for this reason, Because according to the most learned of his followers [Geber, Paracelsus: Henricus Nollius in Theoria Philosophia Hermeticae, tractatu priimo.], he was called Ter Maximus; for having perfect, and exact Knowledge of all things contained in the World; which things he divided into Three Kingdoms (as he calls them), viz., Mineral, Vegetable, Animal; which Three, he did excel in the right understanding of; also, because he attained to, and transmitted to Posterity (although in an Ænigmatical, and obscure style) the Knowledge of the Quintessence of the whole Universe (which Universe, as I said before, he divided into Three Parts) otherwise called, The great Elixir of the Philosophers; which is the Receptacle of all Celestial and Terrestrial Virtues; which Secret, many ignorantly deny, many have chargeably sought after, yet few, but some, yea, and the Englishmen have happily found [Ripley, Bacon, Norton, etc.]. The Description of this great Treasure, is said to be found engraved upon a Smaragdine Table, in the Valley of Ebron, after the Flood. So that the Reason before alleged to prove this Author to live after Moses, seem invalid: neither doth it any way appear, that he lived in Moses his time, although it be the opinion of some, as of John Functius, who saith in his Chronology, That he lived Twenty-one years before the Law was given by Moses in the Wilderness; But the Reasons that he, and others give, are far weaker than those that I shall give, for his living before Moses his time. My reasons for that are these:

First, Because it is received amongst the Ancients, that he was the first that invented the Art of communicating Knowledge to the World, by Writing or Engraving. Now if so, then in all probability he was before Moses; for it is said of Moses that he was from his childhood [Acts vii.22] skilled in all the Egyptian Learning, which could not well have been without the help of Literature, which we never read of any before that invented by Hermes [Chapter x.].

Secondly, he is said by himself, to be the son of Saturn and by others to be the Scribe of Saturn. Now Saturn according to Historians, lived in the time of Sarug, Abraham’s great Grand-Father [Sanchoniathon]. I shall but take in Suidas his judgment, and so rest satisfied, that he did not live only before, but long before Moses; His words are these, Credo Mercurium Trismegistum sapientem Egyptium floruisse ante Pharaonem [Suidas].

Kabballah Divinations | Solomon’s Seals | 1st Pentacle of the Sun

February 11, 2020 by Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila in Energywork, Healing, House of RA, Kaballah, Lessons, Meditation, Newsletter | Leave a comment

Here is a fascinating story about a man who became an angel, not just an ordinary angel – but the minister in charge of all the other Serafim.
His face appears on one of the King Solomon seals, named “The First Pentacle of the Sun“. On this seal – his radiant horned figure is drawn.
Alongside the figure are the Hebrew words “El Shadai” (אל שד”י) (One of the holy names of God).

Who is this divine figure?

This is the Archangel Metatron, the Minister of the Interior, who is the emissary and representative of God that instructs human beings from the upper worlds. According to various Kabbalistic sources, Metatron is said to be the most senior angel in the world of creation (Olam Yetzirah) — the realm where angels are created.

In the “book of Heichalot”, we can find comprehensive knowledge of the angel Metatron and how he received the highest role in the armies of angels:

Hanoch ben Yered was a human being, flesh and blood, a righteous and God-fearing man, who lived in the generation of the great flood (the seventh in the lineage after the first man). He was taken by the Creator and ascended miraculously (without actually dying) to the upper worlds:

” Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, for God took him” [Genesis 5]

This is what Rabbi Yishmael had said about him:

“Metatron, the angel of the interior, said to me: ‘When the Creator took me from the generation of the flood, it enveloped me in the wings of the Spirit of the Shekhina, to the upper firmament … and nominated me to serve the throne of glory every day.”

In the supreme process of coronation, Enoch (Hanoch) was granted many blessings from the Creator, his dimensions were magnified and intensified, and he received 72 wings (36 pairs of wings), 5360 eyes, “Each eye as the greatest light”. A chair was built for him, reminiscent of the Creator’s Throne of Glory, with all the lights of the world shining in it. The chair was placed at the entrance to the Seventh Divine hall and Hanoch was seated on it.

It was also told by Rabbi Yishmael:

“Metatron, the angel of the interior, told me,” Since then, all the secrets of the Torah have been revealed to me, and all the mysteries and deepness of wisdom, and all the thoughts of the hearts of creatures and all the mysteries of the world and all the ways of creation unfold before me, the way they are known by the Creator, and there is nothing in Heaven and the depth of the world that disappeared from me. ” [The book of Heichalot].

The Creator loved Hanoch most of all – he made him a garment that shone with all kinds of lights, dressed him in a coat of honor, and gave him a crown of kingship, in which there were 49 stones shining like the sunlight. On the crown the Creator wrote in fire the Hebrew letters through which the world was created. When this crown was tied to Metatron’s head, all the ministering angels in front of the throne of glory moved away from him with dignity and fear.

“And they all fall upon their faces when they see me and cannot look at me from the glory and splendor of beauty”.

Metatron was given seventy names to the seventy languages of the world. Some of these names may be familiar to you from various kabbalistic writings and talismans: זב”יה, צפצפ”יה, טפטפ”יה , etc. Every name conveys supreme lights.

The Zohar tells about Metatron that he controls all the angels responsible for this world, and has direct linkage with the Creator.
Metatron is also considered the redeeming angel to the world that protects mankind, and he is the one who summons blessings to the whole world, for he has received all the blessings of the Creator.

Why was Hanoch ben Yered chosen to play such an exalted role in the kingdom of heaven and earth?

In the Zohar it is explained that since Hanoch followed the path of truth when he lived in the physical world, he found the lights (sparks) that were lost by the first man because of the first sin (of the Tree of Knowledge). These lights were hidden in the lower heaven, among the trees of the Garden of Eden, where they remained concealed until the birth of Hanoch. Hanoch lived next to paradise, and the hidden light began to shine in him and so – he transcended spiritually.
Due to the spiritual radiance that emanated from him, he was allowed into the Garden of Eden, where he found the tree of life, smelled its fruits, absorbed its essence, and the spirit of the preliminary light of life entered into him.

Angels came from the upper worlds and taught him the supreme wisdom. He was given a book that was hidden in the Tree of Life, from which he learned and knew the ways of the Creator and the secrets of the universe. This is the reason why it was said about him “And Enoch walked with God”.Hanoch lived in the material world for 365 years. He fulfilled the spiritual ascension that every man is supposed to aspire to, and then he was elevated to the upper worlds to his rightful place, and became the great and powerful Metatron the Minister of the Interior. In practical Kabbalah, Metatron’s name and its seventy different names are used for testaments and whispers, and many Kabbalists have warned against pronouncing these names aloud.

As for the First Pentacle of the Sun:
The original seal, on which the image of Metatron is engraved, there is a Latin sentence translated into English in this language:

“Behold His face and form by Whom all things were made, and Whom all creatures obey.”

From this verse, we can innerstand that the purpose of the seal is to illuminate the face of the person who wishes to follow the path of the Creator (like Hanoch), a person who is in equilibrium with the Creator, who strives to give and influence the world. The glow of his face radiates far away, deters the dark forces, and thus he is protected against tormentors and dangers..

When one invests effort, transcends and acts with high awareness, he is able to equalize with the Creator (whose essence is infinite giving), and therefore all his wishes and desires are fulfilled.

This is the secret of the seal: Protection and fulfillment of the wishes of the person holding it.

Kabballah Divinations | Solomon’s Seals | 7th Pentacle of the Sun

February 10, 2020 by Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila in Energywork, House of RA, Kaballah, Lessons, The Mysteries | Leave a comment

Situation: when your hands are tied and you don’t even know it.

Imagine that everything in your life looks beautiful, smooth and good, but when you try to materialize certain plans, or realize a dream or a project that lies to your heart, you cannot move anywhere.

Many of the limitations and barriers that bind us are invisible, and we are unaware of them. Blockages in life can be the result of external influences, as well as those that arise from within, because of restrictive thinking. A significant part of the life patterns we have adapted to ourselves includes a whole set of circumstances that we accept as absolute facts, necessities and “musts” that cannot be changed. This is where most of the “transparent” bondages are hidden.

What are the common factors that restrict us?

Here are some examples:

– A close person who binds us with behaviors that press our guilt button: love and caring do exist, but our sense of commitment to him does not allow us to spread our wings- Over dependence on the advice, direction and opinions of other people;

– Addictions and negative habits that dictate our agenda;

– Obstacles stemming from fear (especially fear of leaving our comfort zone), or fear of failure;

– The need to invest all our energies in dealing with the problems of others, which does not allow us to do what we really aspire for;

– Situations that weaken us and draw all our energies, until we have no mental/emotional resources to think about things that are beyond basic survival;

– Negative desires and impulses that we have, which repeatedly shove us down to the same pit holes;

– Words of criticism that we have hears in our childhood about our skills to succeed in life, the lack of confidence that teachers / parents / educators had in our abilities, false ideas that we have assimilated into our consciousness and have become a weakening belief system that we have about ourselves;

– Economic constraints that require us to stay stuck in a job we do not like, or in relationships that are not good for us any more;

– Even a spell that was upon us, God forbid, that binds us to a certain person and does not allow us to leave and take the direction we want;

– And the list goes on …

Some of the restraints are self-evident and clear as the sun, but many of the limitations and barriers are transparent, so it is difficult for us to identify and overcome them. However, the result is that we cannot make a significant leap in life just because our hands are tied.

Here is one of the King Solomon seals – its name – The seventh pentacle of the sun.

Note the verse from chapter 116 in Psalms that is engraved on it:

“You have freed me from my chains.
I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.”

And this is exactly what the signer is doing – opening the barriers and ties that limit us.

If you suspect that you are stuck in place because of a blockage or other type of bondage, you can make a personal talisman with this seal and keep it at home, or keep it in your purse or wallet. After a few days or weeks, you should feel relieved, and the path will open up to you.

Here is how to prepare your own personalized amulet with this seal:

* Download the image and print it

* On the back side of the image write your name and mother’s name to dedicate the amulet to yourself.

* To activate the power of the amulet, hold it between your two hands and summon its powers to help you. Let its energies penetrate your energy field.

* Keep it at home in a safe place at home, or carry the amulet with you (in your wallet) wherever you go.Good Luck!

The Seals of Solomon – or “King Solomon Seals” are powerful symbols related to King Solomon. According to the ancient traditions, these were the symbols engraved in his rings. King Solomon seals are used in many Kabbalistic amulets and talismans. Each seal has a particular purpose and influences a certain aspect of your life.

More to come!

Kabballah | The Counsel of Ahithophel – a good or bad one? Should you listen to it?

February 5, 2020 by Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila in Energywork, Healing, House of RA, Kaballah, Newsletter | Leave a comment

It is said that in Biblical times, many prophets lived among us: but according to the Sages, since the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, all prophets disappeared from the arena.

In the Babylonian Talmud, in the book Baba Batra, it says:
“Rabbi Avdimi from Haifa said, since the day the Temple was destroyed, prophecy was taken from the prophets and given to the sages.”

“Rabbi Yochanan said, from the day the Temple was destroyed, prophecy was taken from the prophets and given to fools and children.”

Many interpretations have been written about these statements, but from what we know about prophecy throughout the generations, every congregation in exile had a wise sage who knew the secrets of practical Kabbalah to which people could turn for advice and guidance in any area of life.

There were Kabbalists who could read destinies in different methods, through biblical texts, the Psalms, the Zohar, and various destiny books that were written throughout history through which the commoner could counsel and tell the future.
Among the Kabbalah books dedicated to fate reading, were: the destiny of Rabbi Haim Vital, Rabbi Saadia Gaon, Avida Riddles, the fate of the tenth, and more.

One of the famous books for fate reading is the Book of Destiny of Ahithophel, which is related to the diaspora of Yemen.
The pages of Destinies were found written in an ancient manuscript, which read:
“It is a great, well-tested and experienced secret from the sages of Israel and will tell everyone an answer to a question asked.”

Some claim that this was the destiny book used by great assemblage, who concealed it for the favor of future generations, and the book was put back to use when the Kabbalistic sages immigrated to Israel and settled in Tiberias, copied the ancient pages and added clear instructions on how and when to use it.

Who was Ahithophel, and did his advice bring blessing or curse?

Ahithophel was a wise counselor in the kingdom of David, and, as different resources indicate, was the grandfather of Bat Sheva, wife Uriah.

The Bible talks about his great wisdom:
“Now the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man inquired of the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.” [2 Samuel Chapter 16]

Ahithophel’s advice was always credible and accurate, but he was suspected of conspiring to oust King David by helping Avshalom in rebellion to take over the kingdom, probably out of a desire to get revenge on David for his affair with Bat Sheva.

This is how Ahithophel and his advice have become a controversial topic throughout the ages.

In different resources, he is condemned, claiming that he acted out of impure motives and pursuit of power.

At the same time, scholars of the Kabbalah in recent centuries have taught that the destinies by Ahithophel is a wonderful, tested and experienced secret, and can be asked any question and provide a correct and trustworthy answer.

And how what does it have to do with guidance and prediction today, as far as you personal affairs are concerned?

A book of destiny by Ahithophel was compiled hundreds of years ago, written in archaic language, and answered questions that preoccupied the common man in older days. Today, we need counseling tools that speak a simpler and more direct language that everyone can understand and associate with their personal lives.