Tarot - Arcanum No. 9

Arcanum No. 9 is "The Hermit", the Solitude. This Arcanum, in its more elevated Form, is the Ninth Sphere, the "Sex". In the ancient Temples the descent into the Ninth Sphere was the Maximum Ordeal for the supreme dignity of the Hierophant.

Hermes, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Dante, etc., and many other great initiates, had to pass this Maximum Ordeal, the descent to the Ninth Sphere in order to work with the Fire and the Water, which originated the Worlds, Beasts, Men and Gods. Every authentic White Initiation begins here.

In the Ninth Sphere or Ninth Stratum of the Earth, in the centre of the Earth, in the very heart of the Earth, the resplendent sign of the Infinite is found. This sign has the form of an Eight. The sign of the Infinite is the Holy Eight. The Heart, the Brain and the Sex of the Genie of the Earth are represented in this sign.

The Zohar emphatically warns us that in the depth of the Abyss lives the Protoplasmic Adam, the Differentiating Principle of the Souls. With that principle we have to execute a struggle to the death. The struggle is terrible: Brain against Sex; and Sex against Brain; and what is more terrible and more painful, Heart against Heart.

Arcanum No. 9 clearly indicates the 9 Spheres of the atomic infernos of the Nature and the 9 Spheres of the 9 Heavens. This Arcanum also indicates the 9 Planets represented in the 9 Spheres of the Planet Earth. The Initiate has to descend into the 9 Submerged Spheres, in order to later conquer the 9 Heavens which correspond to each planet.

It is obvious that in the human being all the forces revolve upon the basis of the Holy Eight. He who wants to enter the City of the Nine Doors mentioned in the Bhagavad-Gita must decide to descend to the Flaming Forge of Vulcan. In the human organism, the Ninth Sphere is the Sex; he who wants to Self-Realize has to descend to the Ninth Sphere to work with the Water and the Fire, in order to achieve the Second Birth.

The Flaming Forge of Vulcan (the Sex) is found in the Ninth Sphere. It is there that Mars descends to re-temper his flaming sword and conquer the heart of Venus (the Venustic Initiation); Hercules descends to clean the Stables of Augeas (the Vile Animal Depths); Perseus descends to cut off the head of Medusa (the psychological “I” or the Terrestrial-Adam) with his Flaming Sword and it is this head covered with serpents that the esoteric student has to deliver to Minerva, the Goddess of Wisdom.

The fetus remains nine months within the Maternal Womb, “Nine Ages” are necessary in the womb of Rhea, Tonantzin, Cibeles, that is the Mother Nature, in order for a Planetary Humanity to be born. As well, it is obvious that one has to descend into the "Ninth Sphere" in order to be gestated and to achieve this Second Birth.

Jesus said to Nicodemus: "It is necessary to be Born again in order to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:1-15). This means to build the Solar Bodies, as no one can enter the Kingdom dressed with Lunar Rags. One has to build the Solar Bodies and this is achieved only by “Transmuting the Creative Energy”. The Ninth Arcanum is the prudent and wise Hermit, it is Solitude. There is great pain within the Ninth Sphere.

• Kabbalistic Sephiroth: „YESOD”
• Hebrew Letter: „Teth”
• Transcendental Axiom: „Ascend the mountain and contemplate the promised land, but I do not say that you shall go thither.”
• Forecasting Element: "It promises science in order for the making of discoveries, a method for when realizing them and caution when being served by them. Advantageous associations and portentous associations. Friends who help and friends who obstruct. Light of reason and light of intuition, the first for that which is to come and the second for that which will have to be".

SYNTHESIS:

• It is understood that a Self-Realized Being is someone who has built the Solar Bodies and who has finished with the Ego.
• The descent into the Abyss is only under the command of the Elder of Days, and this will be in order to Ascend.
• The Initiation is your own life.
• The Intimate is the one who receives the Initiations.
• Thus, the Initiation has nothing to do with those fantastic tales which are so abundant in certain books.
• Thus, nothing is given to us as for free, everything has its price. Whosoever has not earned anything cannot collect anything.
• The Initiations are payments that the Logos gives to the human being when the disciples have sacrificed themselves for humanity.
• Those who only preoccupy themselves with their own spiritual progress, and do not work for others, achieve absolutely nothing. Whosoever wants to progress must Sacrifice himself for others.
• The Initiation is this same life intensely lived, with Rectitude and Love.

Excerpts from the book “Tarot and Kabbalah” by Samael Aun Weor

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