A piece of mine from a while back...that was inspired by Jay Weidner's sublime Alchemical Kubrick...so thanks & respect to Jay. Link below...it's a must read.
There are four great realms within the Tree of Life . Kubrick reflects these realms with each of the four chapters in 2001. The first is the earthly realm, represented by Malkuth, which is the sephireh located at the very bottom of the Tree of Life. This is the realm of the kingdom, or of mankind. The second realm up is that of the moon, or the sephireh Yesod. The third realm is that of the sun, or the sephireh named Tiperoth, and the final realm of the Tree of Life is that of the ultimate being or consciousness, represented by the sephireh named Kether.
THE 10 CENTRES/SEPHIROTH & 22 PATHS OF THE TREE OF LIFE, ADAM KADMON & TAROT
The ten divine globes (Sephiroth) are then considered as analogous to the ten sacred members and organs of the Protogonos, according to the following arrangement. Kether is the crown of the Prototypic Head and perhaps refers to the pineal gland; Chokmah and Binah are the right and left hemispheres respectively of the Great Brain; Chesed and Geburah (Pechad) are the right and left arms respectively, signifying the active creative members of the Grand Man; Tiphereth is the heart, or, according to some, the entire viscera; Netsah and Hod are the right and left legs respectively, or the supports of the world; Yesod is the generative system, or the foundation of form; and Malkuth represents the two feet, or the base of being. Occasionally Yesod is considered as the male and Malkuth as the female generative power. The Grand Man thus conceived is the gigantic image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, with head of gold, arms and chest of silver, body of brass, legs of iron, and feet of clay. The medieval Qabbalists also assigned one of the Ten Commandments and a tenth part of the Lord's Prayer in sequential order to each of the ten Sephiroth.
Manly P Hall TSTOAA.
Kether is the crown of the Prototypic Head and perhaps refers to the pineal gland.
Note this comparison of Apollo with lyre and serpent...and the staff/caduceus of Hermes...they appear to represent the same thing.
We know from our Caesar that when the Romans invaded Britain they found that Hermes (or Mercury) was the Briton's chief deity, that he was Optimus et Maximus, and to whom they erected 'many images'. Next to him-and only next-came Apollo. Images of Hermes were set up on hill tops of Greece and according to historian Canon Bowles, in Britain as well. His torso adorned the crossroads in Greece and Britain. Bowles says that in Britain he was the most honoured of all the gods, and that alone he had close intercourse with all sorts and conditions of man. He was the god of traffic and merchants; the god of roads, some of which, like "Ermine Street" are still named after him; the chief honours and highest station went to him because he stood for the Druid's sacred mysteries, their learning and their doctrine of the immortality of the soul. (note the same doctrine as Egypt)
It is a remarkable yet hitherto scarcely noted fact apparently missed by ethnologists that two other peoples, separated geographically by considerable distances, also placed Hermes on a similar pinnacle in their countries. The Greeks-not the Romans, whose Mercury was an emasculated edition of the god-venerated Hermes like the Britons, for he entered into their lives from birth to death in just the same way, although from the antiquities of the Mediterranean Greece there is perhaps some reason for thinking that his grip lessened as time went on. The other is Egypt, where apart from his phase as Ammon, as Thoth, the Teacher, the deity who controlled the souls of the dead, there exist numerous monuments, inscriptions and records of this most important deity, and he is the reputed author of the famous Book of the Dead, which regulated the after-life of every Egyptian.
We were taught long ago that the Magi of the Chaldeans, Phoenicians and Egyptians were the earliest pioneers in the field of astronomy and this is quite correct if it be recognized that they were Druids. These wise men closely watched that wonderful star Sirius, regulated the Sothic cycle by it and accorded to the "Watcher" in the heavens the name of the Dog Star (Canis Major) and honoured it further by calling it "the Star of Hermes".
Let us look at Hermes this way. He directed and taught mankind, gave them the blessings of civilization and concerned himself with their immortal souls. He was the personal deity in excelsis. He invented all the arts and crafts, music, weights and measures, medicine, gymnastics, even the art of warfare. He introduced letters, or the alphabet of 16 letters and writing, first known as Ogham. He presided over commerce and trade, was the god of good fortune, the protector of travellers by building good roads, and so in honour at all crossroads were erected Hermae, pillars of either stone or wood and always with his symbol of the Rams' horns.
Perhaps in no phase of activity did Hermes exercise more influence than as a conductor of the souls of the dead to the Celtic and Egyptian Underworld (as Thoth). It was his greatest service to mankind.
We must here arrive at some sort of understanding as to the temporal power, apart from the ecclesiastical, of the Arch-Magus or High Druid who was elected to the seat of Hermes in Britain and who was regarded as a living god. Originating amongst the Pelasgi, who were not only the famous Titans but the true Atlanteans, his functions may be traced back to remote days ages before the true Flood. He was, as I've said an Atlantean deity and seems to have removed his seat from its original home to Samothrace (or Samos of Thrace) a very famous city of "Magic".
Comyns Beaumont, The Riddle of Prehistoric Britain, 1945
There is even the whole 'androgynous/hermaphrodite' angle through the Son of Hermes, that I haven't even touched on.
The symbols of the 'horned god'....from the 'tree of life' on the left & the symbol of hermes/mercury on the right.
More examples....including The Beatles 'love code' & 2001 horns vertically flipped....to the glyph of Dr John '007' Dee.
Its not like Kubrick was adverse to using imagery of this type...
HAL horns at the moment our 2 astronauts go off to discuss his disconnection...after the AE35 unit debacle...Cruise horns from Eyes Wide Shut prior to finding out about the death of Mandy and the 'Lucky to be Alive' newspaper headline.
Good Evening Mr Torrence...erm, Mr Baphomet.
Even gets a look in more recent film offerings.
The horned god, whether as hunting deity, wild huntsman or forest spirit will always be with us. He is a part of us. He can be ignored or spurned, but he will not go away. Even after so long he still finds new ways to appear.
He is the horned god of the hunt and of the forest, lord of the sabbat and of the underworld. He is the embodiment of wild nature and the male principle.
Numerous cultures integrate figures with horns into their mythology, including Cernunnos, Herne the Hunter, Pan, and many others.
The Horned God is linked with male tendencies, including virility. He is often associated with the forest and with wild animals, and in many cases he is linked with hunting, as well.
He alternates with the goddess of the moon in ruling over life and death, continuing the cycle of death, rebirth and reincarnation. (note Osiris/Isis...leading to Thoth/Hermes)
Known to the Druids as Hu Gadarn. God of the underworld and astral planes. The consort of the great goddess. He was often depicted holding a bag of money, or accompanied by a ram-headed serpent and a stag. (as was Hermes also)
I'd like here to say something about Hu Gadarn (mentioned above, druid god with qualities ala Hermes) as he has been deliberately referenced by Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut!
The 'mansion' (the Rothschild one) that Harford/Cruise (Harford is actually a combo of Harrison & Ford...) visits where he witnesses the 'ritualised orgy' is referred to as 'Somerton'.
Hu Gardarn/Hi Gad or Prophet...traditionally made his first settlement at Somerton, Somerset.
The prefix Hu/Hi/Hy...meant in english 'high' and Gadarn (Tribe of Gad) was seen as the Cymric Ab'ram/Abraham...it doesn't take much stretch of the imagination to link Hu/Hi/Hy with 'ram', for the ram associated both with Abraham & Hermes...which leads to Hyram/Hiram....as in Hiram King of Tyre and of course, the masonic myth of Hiram Abiff.
He is also popular among British Israelites, some of whom identify him as the Biblical Joshua, while others identify him with Jesus under the name Hu-Hesus, an idea originating with Iolo's Barddas.
More typical imagery...of the sort we like to discuss.
in the flipped image from the promo's notice how Cruise's nose represents the 'pyramid' and Kidman's eye represents the 'all seeing eye'...Clockwork Orange is similar.
The Thrice Great Hermes....his essence depicted in the lyre of Apollo, as Thoth (who mapped the heavens etc) and as Hermes.
The Pineal Gland & Caduceus...From Egypt to Vatican City....Note the Ibis either side in the image from Vatican City...The pine cone also features on the Pope's staff and was also related to Dionysus.
"E. A. Wallis Budge has noted that in some of the papyri illustrating the entrance of the souls of the dead into the judgment hall of Osiris the deceased person has a pine cone attached to the crown of his head. The Greek mystics also carried a symbolic staff, the upper end being in the form of a pine cone, which was called the thyrsus of Bacchus. In the human brain there is a tiny gland called the pineal body, which is the sacred eye of the ancients, and corresponds to the third eye of the Cyclops. "Manly P. Hall
So to re-cap we have...
THE 10 CENTRES/SEPHIROTH & 22 PATHS OF THE TREE OF LIFE
10 centres + 22 paths= 32
Analogous to the 32 Degrees Of Freemasonry leading to the 'enlightened' 33rd.
Analogous to the 32 spinal segments lead upward to the Temple of Wisdom--the skull.
Analogous to the 32 times that the name of 'god' is written in the Hebrew scriptures. (33 times in English translation)
Analogous to the 32 Chapters found on the 2001 DVD movie insert.
Analogous (22 paths) to the 22 Major Trumps in Tarot deck.
Analogous (22 paths) to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The movie 2001 looks to have the cental spine of the Kabbalah system at its heart....from Malkuth to Yesod to Tiphareth and finally to Kether as the finale.
Malkuth, Sphere of the Earth(The 1st Of 4 Alchemical Chapters)
Malkuth means "the Kingdom." All gross matter may be considered to express the qualities of the four elements: fire, water, air and earth. In more modern terms, there are four fundamental natural forces. They are "strong" force, "weak" force, electromagnetism, and gravity. "Strong" force holds the nucleus of the atom together, contributing to the stability of matter; "weak" force occurs in many natural processes, but the most familiar is radioactive decay. Malkuth is the Sphere of Earth.
The basis of any stable magickal development is a maintainance of physical health through proper diet and exercise. Wrong diet, especially eating at inappropriate times is a major cause of physical,emotional, and mental imbalance.
The Monkey or Moonkey eating meat after the encounter with the 'monolith' prior to this encounter they are shown as vegetarian...co existing with the species around them.
Development of body-awareness is important for "coming to wholeness." There are many techniques to choose from. A disciplined physical fitness routine.
In the four worlds, Malkuth is represented by these correspondences:
1. Physical Plane : The four natural forces. Resonance. Sensory awareness. Diet and exercise. Level of observation in Physics; matter.
2. Astral Plane : The Magickal Image is a Young Woman, Crowned and Throned, who is Demeter/Persephone, a dual form of the Goddess. She is at once Earth Mother and her daughter (the Kore), the archetypal maiden. This young bride becomes the Queen of the Underworld, or subsconcious.
3. Causal Plane : The Personal Unconscious includes the memories and repressed material which must be raised to consciousness. These conflicts must be resolved before one is ready to confront the Collective Unconscious. These repressed contents require a specific technique designed to "raise" them.
4. Archetypal Plane : Initiation into a Mystery has to do with "initium;" an image of "going within, suddenly," as in the abduction of Persephone into the Underworld, below the threshold of consciousness. Her "going within" changed her in a fundamental way, suddenly and forever.
YESOD, Sphere of the Moon (The 2nd Of 4 Alchemical Chapters)
Yesod is the lunar world of the Great Mother. The Moon exemplifies the notion of dynamic equilibrium; it builds a firm foundation of stability based on cyclic change. This ebb and flow is characteristic of the Feminine Mysteries and Lunar Magic. Emotional-sexual sphere. The Moon of Yesod symbolizes fertility of body, soul, mind, and imagination. Its manifestation range from reflective and purely automatic impulses of generation to providing a source of inspiration. This fluctuating world of shape-shifting forms is know in mythology as ISIS, the Great Mother who contains all otherr goddesses. She represents the archetypal virginity of the feminine aspect of Godhead.
The characteristic experience of Yesod or the lower astral plane is a trance state of varying depth. Most commonly, ego, memory and control are weak or absent. There is dissociation from an ordinary state of consciusness.
1. Physical Plane : In the phenomenal world Yesod is characterized as electromagnetic fields, known by physicists to be the formative basis of matter (we know from 2001 that the monolith at the tycho crater is an magnetic anomaly). In the human body, the genitals represent Yesod. Instincts act on the body producing psychomotor automatisms, or the automatic gut-feel responses. Subconscious micromotions also account for the responses of such phenomena as the Ouija Board, dowsing, and pendulums. Astrologically, Yesod is the Moon or Luna. Gareth Knight links Pan to Yesod, stating that "Pan gives the idea of archetypal strength which is characteristic of the etheric and of the action of the Moon on Earth." Pan's appearance here also indicates his other manifestations including panic reactions or attacks, nightmare, guilt, and disturbed erotic involvement. Hyperarousal.
In the human body, the genitals represent Yesod
Note the 'Phallic' nature of the Discovery Space Ship.
2. Astral Plane : At this level one can tap the reservoir of life-force or pranic energy. Kundalini is a physical manifestation of the astral form of Yesod. The therapeutic practice of Bioenergetics resolves repressions and traumas releasing vitality. This level of lunar consciusness includes one's personal reactions to the complex environment. Yesod is a sphere of personal awareness. The personality is a unique complex of emotions and thoughts. This is the level of shamanism and Moon Magic--Wicca. It provides no access past the Astral Plane. Its negative effects include superstition, overemotionalism or reactiveness. Astral psychism. Independence; idleness.
3. Causal Plane : From the psychological perspective, Yesod is the realm of Imagination and Archetypes. One may experience it through Trance or various Art forms. There is understanding of the contrasexual aspects of the anima and animus. There is release from possession and enhanced control of emotions through employing the imaginative technique of personification of divine forces.
4. Archetypal Plane : On the highest level, Yesod manifests as dream experiences and divination. This is the level of oracular prophecy.
TIPHARETH/TIPEROTH, Sphere of the Sun/Saturn/Jupiter (The 3rd Of 4 Alchemical Chapters)
In the original script, by Arthur C. Clarke and Kubrick, the space craft Discovery was heading towards the planet Saturn, and not Jupiter. As stated earlier, Kubrick was forced to switch to Jupiter because the rings of Saturn proved too difficult. This is very important because in the Kabbala, one can switch places between the Sun, or Tiperoth, and Saturn. In other words Saturn can be used as a symbolic representation of the Sun.Jay Weidner
Tiphareth is the Sphere of Beauty, and Perfect Equilibrium. It is the gateway to the Causal Plane of Universal Mind, or the Self. The translation from the Astral to the Causal Plane is as dramatic as that between Physical and Astral. It requires the development of a more subtle aspect of the Body of Light, so the soul may experience that level of awareness.
Tiphareth represents a comparatively high initiation for religious, or mystical man. Here the entire life is dedicated to spiritual devotion, in a 24 hour-a-day ritual. This initiation to a Way of Life is experienced as a death for the ego. It leads to spiritual rebirth and ascension to higher imaginal realms in mystic ecstasy. The Great Work becomes the priority of one's existence.
The spiritual bud formed in Yesod, flowers in Tiphareth in Enlightenment. Many systems describe this grade through various images; Self, Holy Guardian Angel, Philosopher's Stone, Universal Mind, Brahm.
1. Physical Plane : Tiphareth represents the Vision of the Harmony of Things, and is the point on the Tree of Life of maximum equilibration. This same formula is represented in mathematics as the Vector Equilibrium Matrix. The Cube (Monolith/Kubrick/Cubed Brick) is a magickal symbol for Tiphareth. The VEM is an octahedron-within-a-cube (which Kubrick uses in the stargate sequence), which is also the atomic structure of the diamond.
2. Astral Plane : A contemplative life in harmony with spiritual principles becomes the primary ritual. The magical images for Tiphareth include a magickal or divine child (the star child 2001 and the allusions to Horus/Rosemary's Baby released same year 1968); a resplendent king, and a sacrificed God. These represent stages in the Mystery of Death and Rebirth. Tiphareth also corresponds with the Egyptian god, Osiris (The Sun).
3. Causal Plane : In the Causal, the Vision of Harmony indicates that all spiritual progress comes through the principle of Love. It implies the highest ethical standards in both behavior and thought. The Syntaxic Mode means one has a precise cognitive awareness concerning the relative value of mystical experiences, and has the verbal creativity for expression. Thus psychology can express in words what mystics experience through intuition.
4. Archetypal Plane : Tiphareth is the Royal Marriage of the Soul and the Lord. The aspirant enters a period of exploration of soul by spirit for psychic fecundation.
KETHER - JUPITER/SATURN(as per book) AND BEYOND THE INFITE/AIN SOPH (The 4th Of 4 Alchemical Chapters)
The Absolute Deity, with the Kabbalists, has no name. The terms applied to him are Aor Pasot, the Most Simple [or pure] Light, called, Ayen Soph, or Infinite, before any Emanation. For then there was no space or vacant place, but all was infinite Light. Ainsoph, is the title of the Cause of Causes, its meaning being 'endless', because there is no limit to Its loftiness, and nothing can comprehend it. Sometimes, also, the name is applied to Kether,or the Crown, the first emanation, because that is the Throne of the Infinite, that is, its first and highest Seat, than which none is higher, and because Ainsoph resides and is concealed therein: hence it rejoices in the same name.Pike's Morals & Dogma
In this chapter Bowman (The Archer) experiences a universe far more vast and unbelievable than any mortal man has ever conceived. In the final realm of the Kabbalah the seeker can swim in the ocean of the mind of god - which is represented by the sephireh named Kether. This state of awareness is a Sammadi-state from the yogic tradition. It can only be attained by very few people. In the case of the film, the final realm of the Tree of Life can be only attained by one man and this can be done only with the help of the monolith, or the stone. Bowman - the furthest out and the loneliest person in the universe - is that man. In _Mystery of the Cathedrals_ Fulcanelli points out quite clearly - once one understands the key, that this fourth realm of the Tree of Life is physically represented by the very center of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The four spheres are thus, the Earth, Moon, Sun and Galaxy.Jay Weidner
The Shining Ones...
The Egyptian Book of the Dead - 1240 BC - 'The Chapters of Coming Forth By Day' - makes reference to the "Shining Ones" - "Behold, oh ye shining ones, ye men and gods..." Chapter 134 - 15/17.
The Shining Ones appear in many myths and cultures - by different names. They are ethereal entities from a place of creation and light. They appear tall, as giants, that which is 'above'. They are the source of light energy from which all began and to which we all soon return.
One might also think of the Shining Ones as aliens.
The Shining Ones - It appears that the Shining Ones were bilaterally symmetrical bipedal beings, ranging from four to seven feet in height. They wore clothing of many kinds, suited to fit a being with two manipulatory appendages and two legs.
Elohim, comes from Ellu, meaning “the Shining Ones.” “Shining Ones” is an ambivalent term used for both the Nephilim and their first born. The “Shining Ones” are often depicted with horns on their heads. This was a symbol of wisdom, but also of rulership. This is why shamans, priests, and kings adopted the convention of wearing horns also, especially in the form of the crown. This was to primarily indicate that they were descendants of either the Atlanteans or the Lemurians and were endowed with power.Mary Sutherland
Danny shines...just like Apollo (The Sun)
Kneph & Hermes...one and the same?
In art, Kneph was depicted as a Ram (sometimes as a serpent, circle of kneph), the animal symbolic of the ba, a major aspect of the Egyptian notion of the soul; the Egyptian word for "Ram" was "ba". He was also depicted wearing a uraeus (serpent), symbolic of his authority, as creator. In his hand he always bears the ankh, symbol of life.Comyns Beaumont
The Circle of Kneph (and its serpent allusion) was one of the many epithets borne by Hermes and whose followers, the astronomers or seers, were called Nephelim or Knephelim. (see genesis/ gene of isis) It was in effect the solar ecliptic, the sacred circle, in which was wrapped up the Hermetic doctrine of the zodiac or circle of months, weeks and days. He who sat upon that circle, the ecliptic, was and is the Sun.
The British Isles has the legend of supernatural beings, the Shining Ones, coming from the stars (Pleiades, the Great Bear, and Sirius) and bringing gifts of higher consciousness, spirituality, and secrets of civilization and agriculture (grain). These beings were also known as the Tuatha De Danann, "people of the Goddess Dana or Ana" and the Israelites (the original lost ten tribes). The Druids were the "Magi"- wise-men who passed on the gnostic Druid/Essene teaching and tradition.
Also known as Sidhe or Fairies, these Shining Ones were described as tall, fair of form (thus, the term "fairies" evolved), beautiful, young-looking despite their great age, gifted in the arts, the mind, music, and healing. Their magical harps sang by themselves. They erected the stone circles, standing stones and crystal megaliths which aligned the earths meridians and grid (ley lines) to the movement of the heavens, creating an intergalactic computer for connecting to the Divine. These were the peaceful prehistoric ancestors of the more aggressive Celts who arrived in 500 BC.
to be continued...