Hermetic Laboratory

The  tranversal of the path of The Chariot is now concluded.  By no means it is possible to say that every aspect of the path and every nuance was explored, for that is impossible.  Nor is it possible to say that my experiences encountered along the path belong solely to that path and no other - for every path includes within itself every other path.  Nor is it possible to say that the full fractal of the path was summarized as a single recursive equation, in the likes of Z = Z^2 + C.  But I digress. Even as I write this I come to realizations which may have helped widen the experience while on it. The Path of The Chariot is key #7, the 18th path of the Tree of Life, leading from Binah to Geburah. Its attributions are conquest, victory, overcoming, defeat, obstacles unsurmounted, after a long arduous battle.  A die-hard attitude of defending tradition.   Obedience, faithfullness, lust of destruction. While focused exclusively on the car...

I think Dr. Lisiewski's issue with The Chariot had more to do with him than with the path itself.  From what Mark Stavish wrote about him in The Magical World of Dr. Joseph Lisiewski , Joe had an issue with relaxing and letting go.  He always needed to be in control, yet the path of the Chariot requies a certain surrender to the subconscious thoughts and impulses.   The Chariot is the SELF, the Personality, as the vehicle of the universal will.  Joe, who was a highly controversial figure, always at odds with the world would have an issue with this Path.  It is from him that I learned to be extra cautious of this path.  I really don't think it is that bad...

had an interesting conversation with the charioteer during my 55 minute meditation session this morning. before you say you didn't really have a conversation with the charioteer, you just imagined it I'll say yeah so what. regardless whether or not it was the objective universal charioteer or the part of my mind related to it is irrelevant. what's important is that the conversation occurred.  The city behind him has been conquered already. Beyond the city is the great sea of Binah which is not in the drawing. The river between him and the city flows from that Great Sea. Its the same river seen with the high priestess, the empress, and the emperor. He is headed for War to win. The path that he is on leads from Binah to Geburah, the essence of war. As I sat in the Chariot next to the Charioteer, I heard and saw the thunder of the war machine. Steel and iron clashing. He has no fear for the influence of the sign of Cancer protects him. He's not interested in symbol...

The Chariot has commenced its motion.   Where is it going? what will it find when it gets there? that's all a mystery.  I've heard stories... only stories of the path of the Chariot, and none were comforting.  What is currently known about this path is that it leads across the abyss, from the dark sea of Binah to the warlord Geburah.  Its number is 7 as it ties to the victorious נצח and the value of the letter associated with it is ח with the value of 8 tying it to the splendor of חוד. Its just that nobody likes this path, as it can be pushy.  I've seen it compared to an army sergeant (reminds me of С- Ш-).

"You must give up the thing most precious to you, the thing which you love so dearly, the thing which you hold on to, you must give it up, you must give it up.  There can be no half-way measures in finding enlightenment, it is not hiding anywhere it is here and now." -Christopher Hyatt, Undoing Yourself "You strut around proud of the misery you have caused yourself.  You will do anything to preserve that misery" -Christopher Hyatt, Undoing Yourself So Hyatt is kinda brutal in his approach, and what I think he's trying to say is that "Enlightenment" or whatever that may be is not to be found in loves, likes, addictions, habits, thoughts, ideas, prejudices, views, careers, environment.  etc... but it is beyond all that.  Same can be said of Tao or G-d.

This path elucidates the previous paths.  According to Paul F. Case, the man and the woman in this card represent the high priestess & the magician, the empress and the emperor.  The duality alluded to in the Hierophant manifests as the Lovers.  This card is very formulaic of psychology.  The man and the woman represent the self-consciousness (Ego) and the subconsciousness (Id) of Man.  The Angelic figure in the clouds represents the Superconsciousness, the super-ego.  The sun above is the absolute. This is also the balance and the harmony between the opposing forces within the psyche, and the love that is required for their balance.  The lovers are the self-consciousness and the sub-conscious aspects of the mind.  They are naked because they have nothing to hide from each other.  There is a deep understanding between them, and that's a requirement to attain the summit of the great work (the mountain in the background).  Is th...