The Enchanted Initiate
A Journal of Traditional Symbolism, Hermeticism & the Occult Sciences

The Esoteric Cosmology of Noah

The Esoteric Cosmology of Noah: Unpacking the Symbolism of Atlantis, Fish, and Divine Energies

Treatise & Commentary
Sources Consulted:Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages (1928) · Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine (1888)
Frontispiece plate illustrating the hierarchy of ancient mystery schools and the transmission of initiatic symbols.
Frontispiece plate illustrating the hierarchy of ancient mystery schools and the transmission of initiatic symbols.J. Augustus Knapp, in Manly P. Hall’s Secret Teachings of All Ages, San Francisco (1928)

Central to this cosmology is the myth of Atlantis, a continent embodying the origins of the universe and the cradle of human civilization. Interconnected with Atlantis are traditional doctrines, including the fish, Noah, Oannes, and the Aleim, which collectively weave a rich body of symbolism, divine energies, and spiritual narratives. Through an in-depth analysis of these figures and symbols and their relationships, this essay aims to synthesize the underlying philosophical themes and symbolic meanings that govern this esoteric cosmology.

§ I

The Atlantis Narrative: A Symbolic Cradle of Civilization

Atlantis, a mythical continent, serves as the central axis around which the esoteric cosmology of this hermetic lineage revolves. As the cradle of human civilization and the origin of divine and sacred symbols, Atlantis embodies the intersection of mythological and historical narratives. The Atlantean inundation, which destroyed the continent, is linked to the figure of Noah, symbolizing the survival and migration of Atlanteans after their land sank. This narrative thread is further woven into the story of Oannes, a partially amphibious creature who taught civilization to the Chaldeans, and the Atlantean Initiates, who carried sacred and secret doctrine to Egypt, becoming its first "divine" rulers.

§ II

The Fish: A Multifaceted Symbol of Divine Energies

The fish, as an entity, plays a significant role in the esoteric cosmology of this hermetic lineage. With diverse and manifold meanings, the fish is both an edible sea creature and a symbol of divine figures, spiritual guides, and salvific missions. In the context of Christianity, the fish is associated with Jesus and his disciples, symbolizing the salvific mission of the divine. The fish is also linked to the myth of Jonah, where it represents the fantastical and supernatural elements of ancient mythology. Through its various species, such as lepidosiren, oxyrinchus, and phagrus, the fish shares a symbolic context with other fish, underscoring their unique role in conveying deeper spiritual and theological messages.

§ III

The Hydra Lianathan: A Symbol of Man's Lower Nature

The Hydra Lianathan, a sea serpent-like creature, represents man's lower nature and is depicted as a symbol of solar energy in water and divine energy in the body of man. As a symbol, the Hydra Lianathan is associated with the fish, specifically lepidosiren, oxyrinchus, and phagrus, which share a symbolic context within the realms of mythologies and religious texts. This association highlights the complexity and depth of the symbolic universe inhabited by these figures and symbols, linking them to broader themes of creation, chaos, and divine authority in ancient mythologies.

§ IV

Noah and the Body of Adam: A Phallic Symbol and Source of Priestly Prayers

Noah, a biblical figure, is described as a pivotal character involved in the repopulation of planets at the beginning of each world period. His story is linked to the body of Adam, a phallic symbol and a source of priestly prayers and rituals. The ritual of Iselvakus, which involves the footprint of Adam potentially still visible on a Ceylonese mountain, further demonstrates the symbolic significance of Adam's body in the esoteric cosmology of this hermetic lineage.

§ V

The Aleim: Creative Agencies and the Formation of Humanity

The Aleim, referred to in early Jewish Mysteries, are the Creative Agencies associated with the act of creation. Described as gazing into the Abyss, the Aleim play a central part in the formation of humanity, creating man by utilizing their shadows as templates or patterns for the creation of human form. This understanding of the Aleim's role in creation is consistent with the narrative of Noah's ark, which symbolizes the Holy Catholic Church.

⁂

Bibliographia & Fontes

Primary Source Books Used in This Article

The doctrines, historical citations, and symbolic correspondences synthesized in this article are drawn from the following primary works and chapters:

  1. I.Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages
    1928

    An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy

    Chapters / Sections Consulted:Ch. “Qabbalistic Keys to the Creation of Man” · Ch. “Atlantis and the Gods of Antiquity” · Ch. “Fishes, Insects, Animals, Reptiles and Birds”
  2. II.Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine
    1888

    Classical Primary Source Referenced in Text

Further Inquiry in This Cycle

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The Symbolic Depths of Fish and Hydra Lianathan

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🜚The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall — Reader’s Edition)
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The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall — Reader’s Edition)

An encyclopedic outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic, and Rosicrucian symbolical philosophy, detailing the rites of ancient mystery schools from Eleusis to the Rose Cross.

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