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

Sun, Moon & Isis Follower in The Esoteric Tarot

The Cosmic Tapestry: Unraveling the Mystical Threads of Sun

Treatise & Commentary
Sources Consulted:Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages (1928) · Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910) · Max Heindel, The Rosicrucian Mysteries (1911) · A. E. Thierens, The General Book of the Tarot (1930)
The Mensa Isiaca (Bembine Tablet of Isis): Seventeenth-century copperplate reconstruction of the sacred Egyptian mysteries of Isis, Osiris, and Thoth.
The Mensa Isiaca (Bembine Tablet of Isis): Seventeenth-century copperplate reconstruction of the sacred Egyptian mysteries of Isis, Osiris, and Thoth.Athanasius Kircher, Oedipus Aegyptiacus, Rome (1652)

The doctrine of Sun encompasses entities, relationships, and concepts that weave together to form a rich body of mystical and philosophical ideas. At its core, this tradition revolves around the interplay between light and darkness, life and death, and the eternal cycles of nature. Through an examination of the sympathies among these principles such as the Sun, Moon, Mother, and various deities, this essay aims to synthesize the underlying philosophical themes and principles that govern this tradition.

§ I

The Interplay of Light and Darkness

The Sun and Moon are two of the most prominent entities in the Sun tradition, representing the dual forces of light and darkness. The Sun, associated with life, growth, and positive energy, is often depicted as a source of spiritual illumination and guidance. In contrast, the Moon, linked to the mysteries of the night and the cycles of life and death, embodies the enigmatic and sometimes challenging aspects of existence. The relationship between these two celestial bodies is one of balance and opposition, with the Sun's protective light countering the Moon's dark and mysterious influences.

§ II

The Mother: A Symbol of Nurturing and Guidance

The Mother, a central figure in the Sun tradition, serves as a vital parent who instills beliefs in her child and serves an essential office in shaping their character. Her relationship with the Sun is particularly significant, as she guides the upbringing of her child with knowledge of good and evil, using the Sun's rays to influence their development. The Mother represents the nurturing and guiding principles that govern the growth and development of individuals, echoing the themes of light and darkness.

§ III

The Cycles of Nature and the Passage of Time

The Ground of All Life, a symbol of water and the source of all life, is intricately connected to the power and wisdom of the Sun. This entity serves as a medium for the Sun's rays, channeling its energy to sustain and proliferate life and productivity across various contexts. The Year, a concept that embodies the cyclical nature of time and the passage of seasons, is also associated with the Sun, reflecting the continuous and repetitive patterns of seasonal changes throughout the course of a full year. These entities highlight the sympathy of natural elements in fostering life on Earth and demonstrate the importance of cycles and transformation in the human experience.

§ IV

The Wisdom of the Gods and the Mysteries of the Universe

The Sun tradition is populated by a diverse array of deities and mythological figures, each representing various aspects of the human experience. Isis, a symbol of wisdom and the ultimate object of the philosophers' quests, is often associated with the Sun and the cycles of nature. Harpocrates, a symbol of secrecy and wisdom, serves as a warning to keep the secrets of the wise from those unfit to know them. These deities, along with others such as Adonai and Bel, embody the wisdom and mysteries of the universe, guiding individuals towards a deeper understanding of the cosmic tapestry.

⁂

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. “Isis, the Virgin of the World” · Ch. “The Zodiac and Its Signs” · Ch. “The Sun, a Universal Deity” · Ch. “The Theory and Practice of Alchemy”
  2. II.Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot
    1910

    Being Fragments of a Secret Tradition under the Veil of Divination

  3. III.Max Heindel, The Rosicrucian Mysteries: An Elementary Exposition of Their Secret Teachings
    1911

    The Rosicrucian Fellowship

  4. IV.A. E. Thierens, The General Book of the Tarot
    1930

    Containing the Astrological Key to the Esoteric Tradition of the Greater and Lesser Arcana (Intro. by A. E. Waite)

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The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus / Gérard Encausse)

The absolute key to occult science: the classic nineteenth-century treatise uniting the twenty-two Major Arcana with Kabbalistic Hebrew letters, tetragrammaton progressions, and astrological synthesis.

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