CHAPTERXITHE TIME FACTOR IN KABALISM
Every system of Kabalism employs numbers in a symbolical sense, and attributes to them a significance as if they were causative factors. This is legitimate from the point of view of a philosophy that regards the Universe as Symbol. In such a scheme every cosmical factor assumes a symbolical value, according to its ratio in the sum of things, and each of the planets may thus be symbolized either as deities invested with attributes and virtues of a distinctly human nature, or yet may be expressed in terms of numerical values, quantities, colours, forms, and sounds.
But in all such systems the symbolism employed must finally submit to a mathematical expression, which, indeed, is the test of its truth, for as has been very wisely said, we have reason to suspect all statements of fact which are not capable of a mathematical expression. In this connection the Time factor becomes of the highest importance in Kabalism, and since the matter lies in the region of debate, something may be said in this place that may prove of value.
In my Kabala of Numbers and elsewhere I have repeatedly pointed out the fallacy of those systemswhich ignore the cosmic factors, which alone give symbolism its coherence. Nobody can reasonably ascribe any specific sound or numerical value to a planet, or any influence to any part of the heavens or to any period of time without having regard to some cosmical factor as the basis of the system to which these planetary or time significations belong.
Yet I find that such systems are all too prevalent, and that in some glaring instances they assume a factor as the basis of the system, and straightway set about to argue it out of existence. Thus it is stated in one small manual intended for the use of those studying the mysteries of sound and number, that it is “essential to havean accurate knowledge of the time of the rising of the sunat places on particular days,” and the “simple method” of doing this, according to its author, is to “take the sunrise from any reliable almanac ... and add to it for western longitude at the rate of four minutes per degree, and subtract for eastern longitude at the same rate, andyou have the mean local time of sunrise.”
How far this is from the truth any tyro in astronomy will readily perceive. Yet when the error was pointed out to this would-be exponent of the “Mysteries,” instead of being gratefully accepted as a piece of good information which could be utilized in future publications, the unlucky critic was most thoroughly abused, and the matter being finally referred to the authorities at the Greenwich Observatory, it was clearly shown that the criticwas right and the author of the “simple method” wrong in every case. The repetition of these errors in subsequent publications leaves one with no alternative but to conclude that either the intricacies of apparent local sunrise are beyond him, or that their introduction into his simple method of expounding the mysteries would undermine his market by rendering the truth too difficult for popular consumption.
Having already given the correct method of finding the local sunrise by reference to ascensional differences, a process which involves nothing more complex than adding two logarithms together, (tang.of Sun’s declination, ×tang.of the latitude of place), from which we derive the ascensional difference (sinelog.), and comparing the result with that due to the latitude of Greenwich. I need not waste space on the matter in these pages. But it may be pointed out for the benefit of those who wish to base their calculations of the planetary periods and sub-periods on the correct value of apparent sunrise, that the equation of time at the rate of four minutes for every degree applies only to meridian transit in Right Ascension, and has no connection with the equation by ascensional difference due to the latitude of the place. In fact, to find local sunrise it is absolutely necessary to take notice of “seasons and latitudes of places,” and so long as these are ignored so long will the mysteries of sound and number which depend on calculations made from time of sunrise remain “hidden mysteries” in fact as well as name.
By way of illustrating the inaccuracy and futility of the “simple method” of finding sunrise, I may take an illustration that is actually given by its inventor.
“For instance, the sun rises at Greenwich at 4.50 on the23rdApril, 1912, and we want to know the local sunrise at Epsom. All we have to do is to add the equivalent of 0° 17´ (which is nearly one fourth of a degree), 1 minute to that amount. The local sunrise at Epsom is, therefore, 4.51,” which for all practical purposes it is, since Epsom is on the same, or approximate, latitude as Greenwich. But when it is further said that the local time of sunrise is 4.48 at Newmarket on the same day, in the name of holy Science we must demur.
The sun’s declination at 4.50 on April23rdis 12° 24´, which, referred to the latitude of Greenwich, gives an ascensional difference of 1hr.4min.12sec., and to the latitude of Newmarket 1hr.6min.0sec., the difference of these being 1min.48sec., so that if the two places were on the same meridian the sun would rise on Newmarket at this time of the year nearly two minutes before it rises on Greenwich. But Newmarket is 0° 24´ east of Greenwich, and therefore it would further advance the time by 1min.36sec., and taking the two factors into account we have for latitude and longitude combined 3min.24sec.by which the sun rises on April23rdsooner than at Greenwich, the mean time being some seconds before 4.47a.m.Had a more northerly place been taken it could be shown that the discrepancy is proportionately greater, and in fact at the summer solstice thesun rises on Liverpool only 1 minute after it rises on Greenwich, although the former place is 11min.52sec.west longitude, or 2° 58´, while at York it actually rises before it does at Greenwich.
Therefore I would urge that a kabalism that has reference to the cosmic factor of the sun’s rising would be more effectually serviceable than it is known to be if regard were had to the truth. A system that is based on error cannot be true in its structure, and this fact will account for the constant falling of bricks upon the hapless heads of those who enter the portals of this pseudo-scientific structure, where everything is at sixes and sevens, making unlucky thirteens, and where you have difficulty in distinguishing Hermes from Aphrodite, on account of their exchange of clothes.
Similarly, it is no use instituting a system of Kabalism that depends on the position of the sun at the birth of a person, and forthwith giving illustration of the system by means of births that are recorded in Old Style, which involves a difference of ten degrees in the sun’s longitude. Yet I have seen this done by sober-minded Kabalists, and illustrations of it exist in current works on the subject of Numerology. A system, of whatever nature, must be consistent in itself and must depend for its integrity upon a cosmical factor, otherwise it can only be described as a conglomerate of detached observations, which, being brought together cannot by any chance lay claim to the title of a system. In another section of this work I shall be able to show what was the origin of thevarious sounds attributed to the planets, and how the Mantravidya of the Brahmins of India has passed into the hands of Mohammedans and others, who have exploited it for their own purposes without reference to its origin. I shall also be able to show the astronomical basis of the various periods and sub-periods of the planets, including the famous trims’amsha, or “four minute period” which has played such an egregious part in the furtherance of a popular delusion.
Let me here say that a Kabalism is not a mere play upon figures, nor is it a system which arises by necessity from our system of enumeration as some have sought to prove. It is fundamentally an expression of some cosmical law, whether it be that of planetary periods, or other divisions of time instituted by us from observation of certain cosmic factors, or yet the laws of crystallization, which involve the fact of form in relation to sound vibrations. Thus we may have a lunar kabalism depending on the numbers 4, 7 and 28, another of the same nature depending on the numbers 3, 9, and 27: another solar kabala which arises from the numbers 18, 54, and 72. If those who seek to show that the decimal system was originated by the use of the ten fingers, called “digits,” would only have the patience to examine their theory, they would find that the facts are entirely against them. For if counting on the fingers reduced men to the decimal system, this system should be prevalent among the aboriginal peoples. It is, however, an ugly fact for the theorists that the very first system ofenumeration that we come across is the duodecimal system of the Chinese and the Hebrews.
In the first place we find that the Chinese had twelve signs or months, each of thirty days, which was the antediluvian value of the year, afterwards rectified (2355B.C.) by the intercalation of seven months in the course of nineteen years. The cycle of years was twice 60, or 120, arising out of the employment of ten roots and twelve branches. They appointed four chiefs to command the four gates or cardinal points and elected Twelve Patriarchs to govern local affairs. The duodecimal standard was instituted very early in the civilization of the Yellow Empire, as is evident from the Canon of Shun, wherein weights and measures were regulated by the Yellow Tube standard. This yellow tube was nine-tenths of a Chinese inch in bore circumference, and nine inches in length. It contained twelve hundred grains of millet which weighed twelve pennyweights, two pennyweights going to the ounce, sixteen ounces to the pound, thirty pounds to the quarter, and four quarters to the hundredweight. Thus the basis of the whole system of weights was regulated by sound, for there were twelve tubes, each of the same circumference but of different lengths, and these being struck gave the twelve notes of the Chinese musical gamut. The measures of length and capacity were also regulated by these tubes, and thus sound was at the root of all the Chinese mensuration. The fact that there were twelve sounds in the scale shows that the whole system was duodecimal.
The Hebrew system was also duodecimal, for we find that they had twelve months in the year answering to the twelve Gates of the Sun, such as those of Gaza (Capricorn) and Hebron (Cancer), which are mentioned in connection with the feats of Samson, the original of the Greek Hercules and obviously a Sun-god. The twelve tribes were formed upon the basis of the zodiacal circle, and are so referred to in Jacob’s last prophetic blessing, where the sons of the Patriarch are distinctly associated with the astrological portents of the twelve Signs.
Reuben—Taurus, the first sign of the Hebrew zodiac, connected with the constellation Orion and the letter Aleph (Bull). This tribe has often been associated with Aquarius, despite the fact that astrologically speaking it is not a watery sign, but belongs to the airy trigon. “Unstable as water,” is a figure of speech that has no reference to the astrological functions of the sign Aquarius.
Simeon and Levi—Gemini and Cancer. The Levitical sign Cancer.
Judah—Leo, “the old lion,” couchant. The regal sign Leo.
Zebulon—Virgo associated with Argos, the ship.
Issachar—Libra, “servant of tribute.”
Dan—Scorpio, associated with Serpentarius, “an adder in the path.”
Gad—Sagittarius, the trooper. The sign of Jupiter or “Gad.”
Asher—Capricornus.
Napthali—Aquarius, associated with the Tree,“who yieldeth goodly branches.” Here the “hind let loose” should be “the spreading oak.”
Joseph—Pisces, “the fruitful vine by the well.”
Benjamin—Aries, “the wolf,” connected with Anubis of the Egyptian symbology.
Thus the Hebraic system is found to be duodecimal also, and we follow suit in keeping our standards on this basis, counting twelve inches to the foot, and twelve pence to the shilling. Indeed, there can be little doubt that the ancients modelled their conceptions and established their standards “after the pattern of things in the heavens.” By common consent they instituted the Four Quarters arising out of the apparent motion of the Sun, in its daily rising, culminating, setting and decumbiture, and its apparent transit of the equinoxes and solstices. By common consent also they had regard to the twelve signs of the zodiac, and their corresponding months, the lunar asterisms or stations arising out of the mean diurnal motion of the moon, and other points and divisions of time, such as the syzyges and quadratures of the moon. All these became standards from which all calculations were made, and hence all kabalism, as derived from these cosmic phenomena, has a basis in fact which can only be appreciated when the cosmical factors employed are fully understood and appreciated. Hence I say that the time factor, in Kabalism is of the utmost importance.