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THE KERUBIM

"The Strong Ones"

1997 by Soror I.D.D.

1997 by Sandra Tabatha Cicero.

 An "Angel" (Greek aggelos or "messenger" is considered to be a hea!enly sirit# a messenger or intermediary bet$een God or the gods and h%mankind. All religions ossess one inherent

commonality&&the relationshi o' h%man beings $ith the Sirit%al realm. In ancient Greek religion#%daism# Christianity# and Islam# this relationshi is tho%ght to in!ol!e angels&&di!ine messengerssent to h%mans to instr%ct# in'orm or command. An angel can '%nction also as a rotecti!e g%ardian#as a hea!enly $arrior# and e!en as a cosmic o$er. )oreo!er# the line bet$een a good angel and abad angel# or demon# is sometimes %nclear.

There'ore# angels can be broadly described as ersoni'ied o$ers meditating bet$een the Di!ineand the h%man. *!en in its de!otion to monotheism# ancient Israel $as able to embrace the imageo' a co%ncil o' gods by t%rning all o' them into angels that ser!e the +ne God. This accetance o' abelie' in angels $as a de!eloment made relati!ely easy beca%se lesser gods and angels co%ld bere'erred to as "sons o' God." ,ater de!eloment in both %daism and Christianity sho$s aremarkable gro$th o' angelic 'olklore as a res%lt o' contin%ing this ancient ractice o' absorbing thegods o' olytheistic religions by t%rning them into angels.

 A'ter the eriod o' Israel-s abylonian e/ile (097&02 C*# e$ish tho%ght abo%t angels $asconsiderably altered and enriched. Dra$ing on )esootamian art# artists and $riters began toro!ide $ings# e!en 'or the anthroomorhic angels# and an interest de!eloed in angels-garments# names# and relati!e ranks. In addition to the )esootamian in'l%ence# the 3ersiand%alistic tradition o' 4oroastrianism added another dimension to the e$ish concetion o' angels byositing hostile and destr%cti!e angels $ho are rebellio%s against God. The e$ish 5%mran sect# or *ssenes# sa$ the $orld as a battlegro%nd# the scene o' the str%ggle bet$een the Sirit o' Tr%th andthe Sirit o' 6ickedness# the latter an angelic o$er oosed to God called elial or morecommonly# the "De!il."

In %daic Angelology# there are nine classes o' Angels the Serahim# 8er%bim# Thrones#Dominations# 3o$ers# irt%es# 3rincialities# Archangels and Angels. According to :enry Corneli%s

 Agria# in his Three Books of Occult Philosophy # asects o' the *lements can be attrib%ted to thenat%res o' these orders o' Angels as 'ollo$s ;ire to the Serahim# A%thorities and 3o$ers< 6ater toThrones and Archangels# Air to the Dominations and 3rincialities# and *arth to the 8er%bim.3laced in s%erior hierarchy are the s%ercelestial angels# $ho# mediating the attern o' Di!ine 6ill#are the Thrones as the 6isdom o' God< the Serahim as the Goodness o' God# and the 8er%bimas the *ssence and ;orm o' God. As stated by Agria# 'rom the Angelic +rders h%mankind isstrengthened $ith e/traordinary attrib%tes.

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";rom the Angels# )ankind ercei!es messages o' Di!ine 6ill and a clearer comrehension o' the)ind o' God. ;rom the Archangels# h%manity obtains r%lershi o!er beasts o' the 'ield# 'ish o' thesea and 'o$l o' the air."

;rom the 3rincialities# all things are o!ercome# engendering a comrehension o' the ascendancyo' all things# and dra$ing sirit%al o$er to onesel' by a secret and di!ine 'orce. ;rom the irt%es

come the o$er and strength against enemies o' Tr%th. ;rom the 3o$ers# the ability to con=%er these enemies $ithin o%rsel!es. ;rom the Dominations# s%b>%gation o' these ad!ersaries. ;rom theThrones $e are $o!en together and collected into o%rsel!es $ith remembrance 'i/ed on *ternalisions. ;rom the Serahim $e ac=%ire the er'ect 'lame o' ,o!e# and 'rom the 8er%bim comesthelight o' mind# the o$er o' $isdom# and the e/alted images by $hich $e contemlate the Di!ine.

 As stated in Three Books of Occult Philosophy # the :ebre$ theologians n%mbered and called theseorders as 'ollo$s in the s%reme ro!ince# are the Chayoth ha 5odesh# or Creat%res o' Sanctity# to$hich *:*I*: ga!e the gi't o' li'e. In the second lace are the A%hanim# ;orms or 6heels#$hereby ?:: di''erentiated the chaos. In the third lace are the Aralim# great# strong and mightyangels# by $hich ?:: >oined $ith :eh (::?: to ro!ide 'orm to the li=%id matter. In the 'o%rthlace are the Chasmalim by $hich A, 'ramed the image o' bodies. In the 'i'th order are theSerahim by $hich *,+:I) GI+@ dre$ 'orth the elements. The si/th are the )alachim $hich

*,+A: rod%ced metals. In the se!enth shere are the *lohim or Gods# by $hich ?::T4AA+T: rod%ced !egetation. In the eighth reside the eni *lohim# Sons o' Gods# by $hich*,+:I) T4AA+T: rod%ced animals. The ninth and lo$est shere contains the 8er%bim by$hich S:ADDI *, C:AI created )ankind.

The abo!e has been a short introd%ction into the realm o' Angels. The s%b>ect o' the 8er%bim aloneco%ld in!ol!e !ol%mino%s amo%nts o' in'ormation as there are many di''erent classes and '%nctionso' the 8er%bim&&they are not simly limited to the Sehirah o' ?esod. The *lements ha!e their analogies at e!ery le!el# and these attrib%tions can be alied to e!ery Sehirah# b%t artic%larly thecentral Sehiroth on the )iddle 3illar. The 8er%bic 'orces o' 8ether descend the central Col%mn'rom 8ether to )alk%th. This is indicated by the 8er%bic signs abo%t the corners o' the Tarot Tr%mI# The Bni!erse. )alk%th is the shere o' the *lements and ?esod is its 'o%ndation# $hich# beingon the Second 3lane# is the shere o' contact $ith at%ral ;orces. Tihareth is the Sehirah 'rom$hich the *lements are controlled# the Sehirah o' the *lemental 8ings (*lementals $hich ha!ebeg%n to resond to Sirit%al !ibrations.

The Serahim (deri!ed 'rom the $ord "Serah" meaning "b%rn" are another class o' angelsconsidered to be an %er octa!e o' the 8er%bim. Their '%nction is to b%rn 'alse doctrine andcon!ert man back to righteo%sness. It is said that they ass on in'ormation dra$n 'rom theeschamah d%ring slee# to the Creator in Atil%th# 'or the Serahim are the :oly o' :olies# or the:ighest :ea!en in riah.

The 'oc%s o' this aer# ho$e!er# co!ers only those 8er%bim $hich incl%de Gabriel# the AngelicChoir o' the 8er%bim o' ?esod# the Archangels o' the *lements# and the @ight and ,e't&:and8er%bs# )etatron and Sandalhon.

Gabriel

Gabriel-s name comes 'rom the same :ebre$ root as Geb%rah (G@ indicating a relationshibet$een the 0th and 9th Sehiroth. Gabriel ser!es a trile '%nction# Ann%nciator# G%ardian andG%ide. Gabriel is the di!ine messenger $ho relays in'ormation bet$een the Di!ine and h%manityand besto$s the gi'ts o' !ision# hearing and sychic abilities as $ell as the o$ers o' li'e#

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rocreation and e=%ilibration. This angel is re'erred to as Gabriel ?esodel (Archangel o' ?esod andas Gabriel 8er%biel (leader o' the 8er%bim.

 As an angel o' high eminence in e$ish# Christian and )%slim tradition# Gabriel is one o' the 'o%r most o'ten noted in %daism and Christianity# the others being )ichael# @ahael and Briel. Gabrielis the hea!enly messenger $ho aears in order to re!eal God-s $ill. In the +ld Testament# Gabriel

interrets the rohet-s !ision o' the ram and the he&goat (Daniel 210&EF and e/lains therediction o' the 7 $eeks o' years (H9 years 'or the d%ration o' the e/ile 'rom er%salem (Daniel9E1&E7. In the e$ Testament# Gabriel anno%nces to 4acharias the birth o' his son# ohn# $ho isdestined to become kno$n as ohn the atist (,%ke 111&E# and in ,%ke 1EF&1 re!eals to )arythat she is to be the mother o' Christ. Among )%slims# Gabriel is belie!ed to be the sirit $hore!ealed the secret $ritings to the 3rohet )ohammed. As the Ann%nciator# Gabriel is most likely toseak to %s thro%gh dreams.

Gabriel means "Strong one o' God" or "Strength o' God." As seen by the osition o' ?esod on theTree o' the h%man syche# the name is not $itho%t reason. ;rom the osition on the central 3illar o' Conscio%sness on the Tree# Gabriel is the 'irm and stable 'o%ndation o' the Sirit. As ?esod in the6orld o' riah# it is the ego conscio%sness o' riah# and the Sehirah occ%ied by Gabriel is acr%cial one. It is the last stage be'ore the asirant reaches the 8ether o' incarnation# or the

Tihareth o' riah# 'or beyond lies the threshold bet$een @ahael in :od and :aniel in etach. Atthis oint# he is still )an b%t may be re'erred to as ":ero o' God" %nder the g%idance o' Gabriel. Toass# the initiate m%st rise % the Tedek 3ath o' @ighteo%sness $here the shado$ side o' theersonality is destroyed# and all remnants o' being as a searate entity are dissol!ed. +nly then canone attain Tihareth in riah and come %nder the direct in'l%ence o' Archangel )ichael# or "+ne6ho Is ,ike Bnto God."

The Kerubim

The 8er%bim can be concei!ed o' as a re'lection o' the ;o%r :oly ,i!ing Creat%res o' 8ether# theo$ers o' the *ternal *lements. The d%ty o' the Chayoth ha&5odesh is to 'orm%late the rimary

attern %on $hich the rest o' e/istence is b%ilt. These 8er%bic 'orces descend the )iddle 3illar to?esod $here the 8er%bim# as the str%ct%ral o$ers o' the Bni!erse# s%ort this e/istence.There'ore# the 8er%bim are the 'ormati!e o$ers o' the *lements stationed in the shere o' ?esod#the etheric s%bstr%ct%re that s%orts the hysical %ni!erse. As these etheric o$ers# the 8er%bimare the 'ormati!e 'orces o' the $orld and h%mankind. As Angels o' ,%nar ?esod# the 8er%bim alsoha!e an association $ith time# the 'o%r 8er%bic oints in the year $hich are the :ermetic 5abalah-scross =%arter days. Their name means "the Strong +nes" $hich is deri!ed 'rom the Akkadian $ord8arib% $hich means "one $ho rays" or "one $ho intercedes."

The $ork o' the 8er%bim is to in'l%ence comm%nication bet$een the inner and o%ter $orlds byser!ing as G%ardians# :eralds# *=%ilibrators and G%ides. They $ork on the b%ilding o' kno$ledgeand the harnessing o' 'orce in etheric or ?esodic methods. +ne o' these methods is the %se o' symbols relating to ?esodic ercetion $ithin the deths o' the %nconscio%s mind. 6ith the

rogression o' time# these symbols become less rit%alistic and more sychic# becoming tools in thehands o' the asirant. These images are the contents o' the Treas%re :o%se o' Images# and the'orces behind these images are the Angels o' ?esod.

The Tetradic 8er%bim are the animated o$ers o' ?:: $orking thro%gh the 'i/ed signs o' the4odiac. As gi!en in */od%s E012&19 and 79# their shaes reresent the asects o' the 'o%r dynamics o' the *lements. These energies are not the *lements themsel!es# b%t rather are lacedbet$een the Angels and the *lements in hierarchy. +ne o' the '%nctions o' the 8er%bim is to takethese energies and set them into motion and as s%ch## this Choir o' Angels has a direct a''ect on the*arth and )an. As residents o' the *lemental ;orces# these ;o%r 8er%bim are each assigned one

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o' the letters o' the Di!ine ame ?::# and they oerate in and thro%gh the 'o%r astral *lements in?esod be'ore these *lements are 'orm%lated in the hysical $orld o' )alk%th.

This Tetrad ser!es as *=%ilibrators by creating a stable n%cle%s 'rom $hich the hysical $orldcomes 'orth into being. These 'o%r ice&Gerants o' the *lements# %nder the 3residency o' Sirit(Gabriel# are synthesied in the 'orm%la o' ?:S::. ?od# ,ion# e=%a=%am ac%%m# o$here a

oid< :e# *agle# ,ibertas *!angelii# ,iberty o' the Gosel< a%# )an# Dei Intacta Gloria# Bns%lliedGlory o' God< and :eh ('# +/# ,egis %g%m# ?oke o' the la$< and in the midst o' the 'o%r letters isShin# the letter o' Sirit# $hich# 'ormed 'rom the Tetragrammaton# gi!es the Di!ine name o' ?ehesh%a# The 3entagram reresents the concentrated 'orce o' the Sirit and the 'o%r *lementsgo!erned by the 'i!e letters o' the ame o' the @estorer# ?:S:: and is not only attrib%ted to thelanet )ars# b%t also sho$s the 8er%bim and the 6heel o' Sirit. The 8er%bim o' *ekiel ha!e 'o%r 'aces# those o' the ,ion# the %ll# the )an and the *agle# alternating $ith each other by rotation.eside them $as the symbolic 'orm o' the Sirit# symbolied by the $heel. As s%ggested by the t$o$ings that co!ered their bodies and the t$o $ings that stretched %$ards to each other# thesynthesis o' the 8er%bim is 'o%nd in the re!ol!ing Cross# in the 3entagram# and in the idea Siritdominating the 'o%r *lements.

The 8er%bim are $inged celestial beings $hich# %nlike most concetions o' angels as

anthroomorhic# are oomorhic. +n the End 3ath bet$een )alk%th and ?esod# the 4elator enco%nters these ;o%r 8er%bim $ho er'orm elemental %ri'ications $hich aid in the alchemicaltrans'ormation o' the asirant. In this rit%al# the asirant learns that the *lemental Sirits arein!oked thro%gh the o$er and go!ernance o' the 8er%bim and their 4odiacal symbols. They aregi!en :ebre$ names b%t their aearance is rimarily *gytian

Adam (:ebre$ 'or )an# 8er%b o' Air# stationed in the *ast# h%man&headed A=%ari%s. "The 3riest$ith the )ask o' +siris sake and said# -Tho% canst not ass the Gate o' the *astern :ea!en%nless tho% canst tell me my name-." o' $hich is relied "Tho% art BT# Goddess o' the ;irmamento' Air. Tho% art :+@)A8B# ,ord o' the *astern S%n."

Aryeh (:ebre$ 'or ,ion# 8er%b o' ;ire# stationed in the So%th# ,ion&headed ,eo. "The 3riest $iththe mask o' the ,ion sake and said# -Tho% canst not ass the Gate o' the So%thern :ea!en %nless

tho% canst tell me my name-." +' $hich is relied# "Tho% art )AB the ,ion# ery 3o$er'%l ,ord o' ;ire. Tho% art @A# the S%n in his strength."

esher   (:ebre$ meaning *agle# 8er%b o' 6ater# stationed in the 6est# *agle&headed Scorio."The 3riest $ith the mask o' the *agle sake and said# "Tho% canst not ass the Gate o' the6estern :ea!en %nless tho% canst tell me my name-." o' $hich is relied ":*8A# )istress o' :*SB@# @%ler o' 6ater# is Thy name. Tho% art T+B)# the Setting S%n."

Shor  (:ebre$ meaning %ll# 8er%b o' *arth# stationed in the orth# %ll&headed Ta%r%s. "The3riest $ith the mask o' the +/ sake and said -Tho% canst not ass the Gate o' the orthern:ea!en %nless tho% canst tell me my name-." o' $hich is resonded# "SAT*)# in the abode o' S:B#the %ll o' *arth# is Thy name. Tho% art 8*3:@A# the S%n at ight."

The arrangement o' the Theoric%s :all o' only 'o%r o''icers s%ggests the conciliatory *lement o' Air reconciling the oosing energies $ithin the :all# res%lting in a er'ect balance o' 'orces. Then%mber 'o%r is associated $ith Chesed# the 'irst Sehirah to mani'est belo$ the Abyss# b%t it alsore'ers to ?esod as the 'irm 'o%ndation $ithin $hich the ;o%r *lements are gi!en etheric 'orm $hichthen later materialie in )alk%th d%ring the co%rse o' the ,ightning ;lash.

In the Theoric%s @it%al# as the :ierohant addresses the candidate on the meaning o' the Cross$ithin the Triangle# it is stated that the Cross# laced %on the Altar at the base o' the Tree o' ,i'e#re'ers to the ;o%r @i!ers o' 3aradise. It is Gabriel $ho r%les the ",i!ing 6ater streams that $ell 'rom

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o%t the :ighest Throne." "...And he sho$ed me a %re ri!er o' the $ater o' li'e# clear as crystal#roceeding o%t o' the throne o' God and o' the ,amb." (@e!elations EE1. These @i!ers arere'erred to in Genesis E1&1H "And a @i!er# ahar# $ent 'orth o%t o' *den to $ater the Garden#and 'rom thence it $as arted and come into 'o%r heads. And the name o' the ;irst @i!er is 3ison# itis that $hich comasseth the $hole land o' :a!ilah# $here there is gold. And the gold o' that land isgood. There is delli%m and the +ny/ stone. &&,eo.J And the name o' the Second @i!er is Gihom#the same as that $hich comasseth the $hole land o' *thioia. &&Scorio.J And the ame o' theThird @i!er is :iddekel# that is it $hich goeth 'orth to the *ast o' Assyria. &&A=%ari%s.J And the;o%rth @i!er is *%hrates. &&Ta%r%s.J" This indicates the 3residency o' Sirit (Gabriel o!er the 'o%r *lements.

In the 4elator @it%al the asirant is told. "And Tetragrammaton laced 8er%bim at the *ast o' theGarden o' *den and a ;laming S$ord $hich t%rned e!ery $ay to kee the 3ath o' the Tree o' ,i'e#'or :e has created at%re that )an# being cast o%t o' *den# may not 'all into the oid. :e hasbo%nd )an $ith the Stars# as $ith a chain. :e all%res him $ith scattered 'ragments o' the Di!ineody in bird and beast and 'lo$er# and :e laments o!er him in the 6ind and the Sea and in theirds. 6hen the times are ended# :e $ill call the 8er%bim 'rom the *ast o' the Garden# and all shallbe cons%med and become In'inite and :oly." .... "This dra$ing o' the ;laming S$ord o' the 8er%bimis a reresentation o' the G%ardians o' the Gates o' *den.

 As the 5abalah teaches# the e!erlasting abode o' the :igher Sel' is in the *den o' 3aradise# thes%ernal sanct%ary $hich is 'ore!er g%arded 'rom chaos by the ;laming S$ord o' the 8er%bim$hirling across borders o' the Abyss. A'ter the descent 'rom Grace# the 8er%bim $ere stationed atthe Abyss to searate the S%ernals 'rom the e''ects o' the ;all.

The ;o%r 8er%bim# thro%gh their assignation to the 'o%r Archangels# are ;o%r o' the Se!en in the3resence o' the ,ord. This descrition o' the 8er%bim is 'rom ohn-s !ision (@e!elations H7&2"And the 'irst beast $as like a lion# and the second beast like a cal' and the third beast had a 'aceas a man# and the 'o%rth beast $as like a 'lying eagle. And the 'o%r beasts had each o' them si/$ings abo%t him< and they $ere '%ll o' eyes $ithin and they rest not day and night saying# -:oly#:oly# :oly# ,ord God Almighty# $hich $as# is and is to come.- " :ere# the 8er%bim are seen assingle&headed b%t ha!ing si/ $ings# th%s %niting the o$ers o' the n%mber se!en (the 3lanets $iththe n%mber 'o%r (the *lements.

The In!isible Stations o the Hall o the Golden #a$n

The Stations o' the )an# the ,ion# the %ll and the *agle are the ;o%r Cardinal 3oints $itho%t the:all and these are the in!isible G%ardians o' the bo%ndaries o' the Temle. They are lacedaccording to the ;o%r 6inds and are stationed beyond the thrones o' :ierohant# Dado%chos#:iere%s and Stolistes.

The Kerub o Air # behind the throne o' :ierohant# is the o$er o' the Goddess :athor $ho %nitesthe o$ers o' Isis and ehthys. The sign o' A=%ari%s# the odiacal sign o' Air# is the 6ater&earer#

the container o' @ain. The *gytian name 'or the Sign o' A=%ari%s is 3hritithi.

The Kerub o %ire# 'ace and 'orm o' a lion# $ith large# 'laing $ings# is behind the throne o' Dado%chos# and is the o$er o' the Goddess Tharesh or Tharheshest. The action o' the ,ion8er%b is thro%gh the ;laming ;ire o' ,eo $ith the *gytian name o' ,abo&Ae.

The Kerub o &ater # $hich has the 'ace and 'orm o' a great *agle $ith large# glinting $ings# isbehind the throne o' :iere%s. It is the o$er o' the God Thoomoo# and his oeration is thro%gh the

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Sign o' Scorio# $hich is called in *gytian Slae&*e (in *gytological $orks the name o' this god isT%m or Tm%.

The Kerub o Earth has the 'ace and 'orm o' a %ll $ith hea!y# dark $ings and is sit%ated behindthe throne o' the Stolistes. It is the o$er o' the God# Ahahshi# oerating by the Sign o' Ta%r%s andits *gytian name is Ta&A%r.

S'hyn() the Synthesis o the Kerubim

The Shyn/ is a synthetic o' the 8er%bic 'ig%res. In the @it%al o' the End 3ath leading into theTheoric%s Grade# it is $ritten# "The Shyn/ o' *gyt sake and said# -I am the synthesis o' the*lemental ;orces. I am also the symbol o' )an. I am ,i'e. I am Death. I am the Child o' the ight o' Time.- As stated in @egardie-s Golden Da$n "o$ learn the mystery o' the 6isdom o' *gyt-6hen the Shyn/ (synthesis o' the 8er%bim and the 3yramid (synthesis o' the *lements are%nited# tho% hast the 'orm%lae o' the magic o' nat%re. These are the keys o' the $isdom o' all Time<and its beginning&&$ho kno$eth itK In their keeing are the sacred mysteries and the kno$ledge o' )agic and all the Gods."

 According to ,e!i in Transcendental )agic "?o% are called to be the king o' air# $ater# earth and'ire# b%t to reign o!er these 'o%r li!ing creat%res o' symbols# it is necessary to con=%er and enchainthem. :e $ho asires to be a sage and to kno$ the Great *nigma o' at%re m%st be their heir anddesoiler o' the Shyn/# his the h%man head# in order to ossess seech< his the eagle-s $ings inorder to scale the height< his the b%ll-s 'lanks in order to '%rro$ the deth< his the lion-s talons# tomake a $ay on the right and the le't# be'ore and behind."

The 8er%b# or Symbolic %ll# $hich )oses laced at the gate o' the edenic $orld bearing a 'ierys$ord# $as a Shyn/ $hich had a b%ll-s body and a h%man head. It is the Assyrian Shyn/#symbolic o' the combat and !ictory o' )ithras. This armed Shyn/ reresents the ,a$ o' )ystery$ho $atches at the door o' initiation to $arn a$ay the ro'ane.

The )osaic 8er%b also reresents a great mystery in $hich the elements are e/ressed by then%mber se!en# $itho%t# ho$e!er# gi!ing the 'inal $ord. This $ord is $hat the 5abalists $rite as?:: and interret by Aleh @esh Aleh @esh ?od Ta% Aleh# e/ressing the trilicity o' thesecondary rincile# the alliance bet$een the triad and the tetrad# in a $ord comosed o' 'o%r letters# $hich 'orm se!en by means o' a trile and do%ble reetition. This $ord is rono%nced"Ararita."

The %ni!ersal key o' all magical oerations is that o' the ancient religio%s doctrines# and it is the keyto the 5abalah# the ible# and the ,esser 8ey o' Solomon. 6ith this key# $e are able to %nderstandthe enigmas o' e!ery Shyn/ and enetrate the )ysteries&&and the key is this (1 a hieroglyhicand n%merical alhabet# e/ressing by characters and n%mbers# a series o' %ni!ersal and absol%teideas# (E a scale o' ten n%mbers# m%ltilied by 'o%r symbols and connected $ith t$el!e 'ig%resreresenting the t$el!e signs o' the odiac and ( the 'o%r angels o' the cardinal oints.

The symbolic tetrad# reresented in the )ysteries o' )emhis and Thebes by the 'o%r 'orms o' theShyn/# i.e. the man# eagle# lion and b%ll# corresond to the 'o%r elements. o$ these 'o%r signs#$ith all their analogies# e/lain the one $ord hidden in all the )ysteries. It is the name o' the 'o%r rimal letters o' the Ine''able ame ?+D# symbol o' the aternal sceter o' oah< :*# the c% o' libations and also symbolic o' maternity< and AB $hich emerges 'rom and >oins the t$o. This is thetrile sign o' the triad in the Di!ine 6ord< b%t the mother&letter# :* aears a second time# toe/ress the 'ertility and ab%ndance o' at%re and o' $oman to concisely e/ress the doctrine o' %ni!ersal and rogressi!e corresondences# $hich descends 'rom ca%se to e''ect and ascends

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'rom e''ect to ca%se. )oreo!er# this sacred $ord is not rono%nced# it is selled# and e/ressed in'o%r letters $hich are the 'o%r sacred $ords# ?od :e a% :e.

Metatron and Sandal'hon

+ne o' the most common aearances o' the 8er%bim is the great dyad o' )etatron and

Sandalhon. These t$o holy 8er%bim are the Sentinels o' the riatic )other Temle o' ,ight.)etatron is the Great )asc%line 8er%b# corresonding to the 6hite 3illar o' ?akhim# andSandalhon is the Great ;eminine 8er%b# corresonding to the lack 3illar o' oa. These T$o3illars# ositioned on the right and le't sides o' the Tree# are symbolic o' the concets o' Acti!e and3assi!e# )ale and ;emale# Adam and *!e and re'er to the 3illars o' ;ire and Clo%d $hich g%idedthe Israelites in the $ilderness. In the Theoric%s @it%al# the hot and moist nat%res are '%rther marked by the @ed ,am and the C% o' 6ater. These T$o 8er%bim are the Angels o' the De!ir#the :oly o' :olies o' the :ebre$ Tabernacle and Temle. In this Temle# one in%nense air o' 8er%bic Images sread their $ings 'rom $all to $all and a smaller air stood at the t$o ends o' the

 Ark itsel'. et$een them $as the 8aoreth# the 3resence o' ?ah$eh.

*heieh denotes breath and the so%nd that e!ery being rono%nces all its e/istence# and it is theame o' the ,ord o' ,i'e. y the insiration and e/iration o' *heieh thro%gh the t$o Great 3illars

()acroroso%s is Aima and Abba# )other and ;ather# all things are thro$n into !ibration. AsG%ardians o!er )alk%th# )etatron and Sandalhon are the T$o 3illars# b%t the $ork o' theseDyadic 8er%bim is not solely relegated to the role o' G%ardians. They '%nction also as *=%ilibrators#balancing oosites and de'ining the center# the lace o' balanced o$er. As *=%ilibrators# theseT$o 8er%bim are closely related to the *gytian God'orms o' Isis and ehthys. ehesch ha&)essiah (also called "8er%bim" is the animal so%l o' )essiah# or the Shekinah# and is the 3resencebet$een these t$o 8er%bim. The Shekinah reresents Aima *lohim# the S%ernal Sehiroth as asynthetic %nity o' the Di!ine 6hite rilliance. Since this is soken o' as bet$een the 8er%bim# it isthe )iddle 3illar o' the Tree and as s%ch# is the 3ath o' the @edeemer.

The !ibrations o' the riatic 6orld o' 8ether are sho$n thro%gh the in'l%ence o' the mighty Archangel )etatron# the Great Angel o' the 3resence and the 6orld 3rince. Also called the "8ing o'  Angels#" )etatron $as the g%iding angel that led the children o' Israel thro%gh the $ilderness.

)etatron# alone# sees the ;ace o' God. :e resides o!er the Tree o' ,i'e in its entirety and isconsidered the @ight&hand )asc%line 8er%b o' the Ark. It is said that )etatron comm%nicated the5abalah to h%mankind# and as stated in the Abodah 4arah o' the Talm%d# he is the "teacher o' theremat%rely dead children o' 3aradise." :e is kno$n as the )etatron 8etheriel and is also calledI+*, & "I am God." )etatron '%nctions as the link bet$een God and )an# and the !ibration o' this

 Archangel-s name $ill generate a yearning to ret%rn to God or the %re state o' 8ether. There'ore#he is the g%ide or so%rce o' asiration in attaining the higher le!els o' the sel' and by !ibrating hisname# $e dra$ do$n that art o' him to aid %s in this e''ort.

The e''ect o' the riatic 6orld o' )alk%th is thro%gh the Archangel Sandalhon. She is also the ,e't&hand 8er%b o' the Ark o' the Co!enant. Translated 'rom the Greek "Sandal'on" $hich means "Co&rother#" Sandalhon is considered the t$in o' )etatron or another 'orm o' this Archangel. Another translation o' the name is ",ord o' the */tent o' :eight" and beca%se o' this remarkable height# she

is said to be able to reach her t$in in 8ether# $hich oints to the idea that )alk%th is 8ether&&b%ta'ter a di''erent manner. As the Archangel o' )alk%th# Sandalhon reconciles the material energies$hich are bro%ght 'orth into the hysical $orld. She is also said to con!ey the o$er and bea%ty o' the nat%ral $orld to the So%ls o' h%manity and in'l%ences $orldly a''airs in general by creating theb%ilding blocks and designs 'or each ci!iliation.

+n the )icrocosmic Tree o' ,i'e# )alk%th o' riah is the e=%i!alent to the sel' o' )an. Thearchangel Sandalhon $atches o!er the 8ether (the most sirit%al essence o' the hysical bodyand the Tihareth (the conscio%sness o' the sychologically %na$akened indi!id%al. 6hen initiatesbegin to e!ol!e# Sandalhon g%ards them as the eschamah gro$s# al$ays keeing

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conscio%sness on the )iddle 3ath. As the eschamah becomes stronger# an image o' the riatic6orld# the realm o' Sirit# begins to 'orm. Slo$ly a 'o%ndation is 'ormed on the lo$er ortion o' theriatic Tree# and the initiate begins to ercei!e and comrehend the images o' this 6orld# as isdemonstrated by the Chariot and Throne o' the !ision o' *ekiel. It is here that the creation o' a%ri'ied conscio%sness is originated# and $ith this '%sion o' conscio%sness comes the de!elomento' an a$areness in the @%ach triad. 6hen the crystalliation is comlete# $hen it is stable $ithin# itis no longer a assing 'lash or a gi't# b%t a ermanent 'o%ndation.

*on+lusion

The $ord "8er%bim" might be better %nderstood as a matter o' '%nction# rather than as a title#indicating the $orking together o' gro%s# or olarities# i.e. dyads# tetrads# enneads# etc. ie$ing theTree as '%nctioning sim%ltaneo%sly# the *lements originate in 8ether thro%gh the ;yl'ot or theSiral&&"God breathes." Chokmah is the %re# ine/ha%stible 'orce o' this "breath##" and inah is its!ehicle o' de'inition. These t$o Sehiroth originate the channel $hereby the 8er%bic 'orcesdescend the )iddle 3illar# and the Side 3illars maintain this assage$ay thro%gh $hich they mo!e.These *lemental 'orces are dra$n 'orth across the Abyss by Geb%rah# $orking in con>%nction $ithChesed $hich e=%ilibrates them# and it is these t$o Sehiroth $hich bring these 'orces thro%gh toindi!id%alied otential. They are then mani'ested as the heart o' sel' thro%gh Tihareth $hich r%les

and controls them. etach and :od d%licate the e''orts o' Chokmah and inah and o' Geb%rahand Chesed in the lo$er ersonality o' the sel'< and it is in ?esod# or the ego conscio%sness# thatthese 8er%bic 'orces are str%ct%red. )alk%th is the mani'estation o' these elements $ithin thehysical body# the gro%nding o' the circ%it. The '%nction o' the 8er%bim seems to be in g%arding thegate o' this action.

Sour+es The Golden Dawn# Israel @egardie

 A Garden of Pomegranates# Israel @egardie

Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition# Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero

Transcendental Magic # *lihas ,e!i

Three Books of Occult Philosophy # :enry Corneli%s Agria

 A Practical Guide to a!alistic Sym!olism# Gareth 8night

 Adam and the "a!!alistic Tree# 4-e! ben Shimon :ale!i

The Sword and the Serpent# $olume %& Magical Philosophy # )elita Dennings and +sborne 3hillis

'This (oly In)isi!le ompanionship" by Adam 3. ;orrest# The Golden Dawn*ournal# $olume %&

+a!alah& Theory and Magic # Chic and Sandra Tabatha Cicero# eds.

"a!alah of the Golden Dawn# 3at 4ale$ski

Mystical +a!alah# Dion ;ort%ne

The Bible, New King James Version

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