Hi everyone,
I’ve been deep-diving into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s version of the Tree of Life (the Athanasius Kircher arrangement), and I'm particularly interested in the mechanics of the Qabalistic Cross (QC).
As many of you know, when performing the QC, the practitioner touches the forehead, the chest/genitals, the right shoulder, and then the left. The standard Golden Dawn explanation for this sequence is that you are "backing into" the Tree. By doing this, the Pillar of Severity (Geburah) aligns with your right shoulder and right arm. This reversal is meant to symbolize the microcosm (the individual practitioner) mirroring the macrocosm (the universe), where Severity traditionally sits on the left side.
However, traditional Lurianic Kabbalah doesn’t make this reversal. In the Lurianic system, Severity is associated with the left side for both the macrocosm and the microcosm.
Interestingly, I've come across the historical theory that this specific switch—placing Geburah on the right for the microcosm—was actually a theological change introduced by the Sabbatean-Frankists. To be entirely clear, I'm not suggesting that the Golden Dawn is a Frankist organization, but rather that they may have historically inherited this specific structural tweak through the esoteric grapevine.
This brings up a few questions I was hoping to discuss:
I’m very curious if anyone has any information, insights, or personal thoughts on this. I’d love to hear your perspectives!
I’ve been deep-diving into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn’s version of the Tree of Life (the Athanasius Kircher arrangement), and I'm particularly interested in the mechanics of the Qabalistic Cross (QC).
As many of you know, when performing the QC, the practitioner touches the forehead, the chest/genitals, the right shoulder, and then the left. The standard Golden Dawn explanation for this sequence is that you are "backing into" the Tree. By doing this, the Pillar of Severity (Geburah) aligns with your right shoulder and right arm. This reversal is meant to symbolize the microcosm (the individual practitioner) mirroring the macrocosm (the universe), where Severity traditionally sits on the left side.
However, traditional Lurianic Kabbalah doesn’t make this reversal. In the Lurianic system, Severity is associated with the left side for both the macrocosm and the microcosm.
Interestingly, I've come across the historical theory that this specific switch—placing Geburah on the right for the microcosm—was actually a theological change introduced by the Sabbatean-Frankists. To be entirely clear, I'm not suggesting that the Golden Dawn is a Frankist organization, but rather that they may have historically inherited this specific structural tweak through the esoteric grapevine.
This brings up a few questions I was hoping to discuss:
- Energetic Implications: What are the actual magical or energetic implications of this reversal within the QC?
- Impact on Rituals: Since the QC acts as the foundational opening and closing for almost all foundational GD rituals (like the LBRP), how does anchoring Severity to the right fundamentally affect the current of the rituals?
- Historical Sources: Does anyone have any specific texts or historical info that traces this Frankist connection to the Golden Dawn's founders?
I’m very curious if anyone has any information, insights, or personal thoughts on this. I’d love to hear your perspectives!
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