The Planetary Principles
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The Planetary Principles
Tradition teaches that the created universe did not at the beginning consist of material things, but of perfect forms, or Divine ideas; we might also call them pure Essences. When our part of creation was no longer in perfect harmony with the Absolute, it could no longer exist as pure Essence, but had to be "expressed" though matter in order to remain in being. Thus everything we know consists of both essence and matter. Pure essence would be, for example, pure "flowerness", but not a flower. Pure matter, having no essence, would have no qualities of any sort – no size, no shape, no colour, no texture etc. Pure Essence can and does exist on the plane of Spirit, although we can in no way conceive of it in our present state. Matter is quite incapable of independent existence.
But we must make it clear that matter in its true sense does not refer only to physical matter, but to everything below the level of pure Spirit. Thus it includes etheric, astral and mental matter, as well as many other forms of matter with which he have no contact on this plane. A thought is a piece of matter just as much as a table, or rather, they are both, like all things, a combination of matter and essence. Thus to those who say that pure Essence is not inconceivable because one can conceive of pure "flowerness" we must reply that the very conception itself is a piece of thought matter. However, because of the limited and largely erroneous concept which is usually designated by the word "matter" in modern usage, we will use henceforth the traditional term "materia".
Essence and materia should not be conceived as "substances" or "things", but rather as the extreme two poles of manifest existence.* All manifest things occupy points on a sliding scale between them – thus a stone is closer to pure materia, a poem closer to essence, but only relatively speaking.
Essence is the female, "spiritual" and creative or shaping pole; it is symbolised by the sphere, or in plane geometry by the circle. Materia is the male, "heavy" or "solid" pole; it is symbolised by the cube, or in plane geometry by the square. Again, essence is quality, materia quantity.
We have said that everything below the level of pure Spirit has a material form, but there is one exception to this rule: psyche or soul. Soul is neither matter nor Spirit, but stands between the two. So also, soul stands between essence and matter as a third principle. In traditional symbolism, the three principles are termed Heaven, Earth and Maid. In the symbolism of the planetary principles, they are represented respectively by the circle, the cross and the crescent:
[image of circle, image of cross, image of crescent]
Heaven, Earth, Maid
(Essence), (Materia), (Psyche)
Etymologically, the word "Maid" is connected with "may", meaning the power to do something (hence "might" is both the past participle of "may" and also means power). Essentially, it means the potential of doing or not doing, ie the power of choice. Maid is "she who chooses", she who is what she is because of the choices she has made. As the mediating or reconciling Principle, the Daughter is perfect Maid. She descended to the level where She too had to choose between good and evil (Mythos III and IV). This is what is meant by the phrase "God became Maid", the phrase "God became flesh" is a materialistic parody of this, reflecting the limited perspective of the materia-dominated outlook. As we will see when we come to examine the male and femlae principles as expressed in the planetary symbolism, this error is intimately connected with the error of conceiving God as male.
Within the microcosm of an individual Maid, the three principles may be sen as corresponding to Spirit, body and soul; but it must be remembered that "body" is not just the physical body (or "flesh"), but also the astral, etheric and mental bodies, and that Spirit is not as individual faculty but the point at which the individual remains united with the Absolute.
From these three principles proceed the seven planetary principles, which consist of all the meaningful relationships between the primary principles, not [?] filtered through materia (although, of course, they must unite with materia in order to manifest at any level). These consist of Heaven and Maid standing alone – Materia, as we have said, is incapable of independent existence. They are represented not by planets proper, but by the two luminaries, the sun and moon:
[astronomical symbol of sun, moon]
Sun, Moon
(Heaven, Essence), (Maid, Psyche)
The remaining five planetary principles derive from the relationships of Heaven and Maid with Materia, and are akin to the five material elements; however, they should in no sense be confused with these elements, which are simpler and purer and strictly more "elementary". Indeed, viewed from a different perspective, thatof the Triad and Tetrad division of the planetary principles (which does not concern us here), certain of the principles correspond to different elements from those given below; however, from a Magical point of view, the kinships given are correct. The four corporeal elements consist of the relations of Heaven and Maid separately to Earth or materia; Heaven ruling Earth, Earth ruling Heaven, Maid ruling Earth, Earth ruling Maid:
Planetary principle
[signs of Venus, Mars, crescent over cross, cross over crescent]
Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
Elemental kinship
[alchemical signs of water, fire, air, earth]
Water, Fire, Air, Earth
The seventh planetary principle combines Heaven, Maid and Earth:
[astronomical sign of mercury, alchemical sign of ether]
Mercury akin to Ether
From the foregoing, it should be obvious that the heptad of planetary principles is fundamental, and that the recent "discovery" – or rather rediscovery – of three additional planets does not in any way alter this. The assumption that they do is founded firstly on the supposed superiority of the modern world to the ancient, which assumes that the matriarchal astrologers "left out" the additional planets because they were ignorant of them; whereas, in fact, they were perfectly well aware of their existence, as they are clearly depicted, for example, on several ancient Sumerian seals. Secondly, the assumption is founded on the supposition that the physical planets in some way "create" the principles, rather than merely symbolising them. Usually this assumption is merely tacit, although sometimes one hears talk of such mechanical monstrosities as "waves" or "rays" emanating from the planets. In a purely figurative sense, such images can be useful, but there are persons who intend this terminology to be taken quite literally, in which case it is mere fantasy born of a materialistic desire to reduce super-physical influences to a semblance of physical "science". Having asserted that the planets are only the symbols of the principles, however, it must be made clear that symbolism, when it is of a genuinely universal nature and not merely an artifical convention devised by individual minds, is a far more powerful thing than the materialistic mentality can possibly understand, and is, in deed, one of the bases of all traditional thought. The planets as such do not "affect" earthly events (although, again, there is no harm in saying that they do in a figurative sense, just as we speak of the sun rising, when in fact it does no such thing), but they are a part of the universal symbolic system of which human life is also a part, and since events in any part of the system are organically bound up with events in any other part, knowledge of one part can always be gained by observation of another, provided the correct symbolic interpretations are understood. Neiher do we mean to suggest that the extra-Saturnian planets are outside this system, for that is a manifest impossibility. Any event, from the movement of a planet to the flight of a bird or the fall of a card can, correctly interpreted, give information about any other event. That is the basis of all divination.
Our concern here, however, is not with divination, but with the heptad of principles symbolised in the deepest sense by the seven planets for us in this phase of existence; although the seven principles are themselves universal and affect all material existence far beyond our solar system and beyond the plane of physical matter. They are, in fact, seven "rays" (using the image in a strictly figurative sense) which run throughout the universe from the highest point to the lowest, affecting every creature and phenomenon on every level of existence. At the head of the rays, far "above" the physical plane, stand the seven "planetary" Geniae [Janyati]. amd at their "lowest" point, far "below" the physical plane stand the seven daughters of Eresh-Kigal [Irkalla] who represent the extreme perversion of each of the principles. At every level between these two extreme points, each ray has both a beneficent and a maleficent aspect.
We will now proceed to a brief examination of each of the principles, treating particularly their deeper significance in the spiritual pattern of the universe. Each ray is named after the Genia [Janya] governing it.
[astronomical symbol of sun] Sun; ray of Theia [Raya]: The sun is, of course, the primary celestial symbol of the Mother, as well as representing pure Essence. The correspondence is a natural one since She is the Creator of the Essential world, and it is only through our turning from Her that we have descended into material existence. The name of the Genia [Janya] also expresses the connection with the Mother. In one sense this is the highest of the principles, but it can never manifest its full potential in any part of the material universe, since Essence cannot exist without Materia; and since the rays do not exist in the same form outside [?] the material universe. This principle always remains a secondary or potential state. In the same way the Mother can never be realised fully while the soul remains in imperfection, for "They can no longer look upon My brightness" (Mythos III, 5) – another obvious correspondence with the symbol of the sun. Because of its pre-lapsarian nature, this principle also governs the "Golden Age" of the western tradition (the symbolic metal of the ray is gold), or the Hindu Devpara Yuga. This is called "the time before the Fall", but refers not to the Cosmic Fall itself, but rather to a lesser fall within the span of the preent humanity. The Golden Age refers to the first and longest phase of the present cycle, of some 20,000 years, when human life was fully attuned to its inner principles, and therefore perfect of it skind. The Golden Age also refers to various lesser periods corresponding to "cycles within cycles". In any cycle, major or minor, the four ages correspond to each other in the ratio 6:3:2:1 so that the first age is four times as long as the last. The units in each case are cycles, so that each cycle is made of ten smaller cycles.
The perfect attunement of the Golden Age is also the highest aim of life, and this is poetically expressed in the traditional dictum that the true work of an alchemist is "to separate the Philosophical Gold fromthe Black Dragon of Matter." The symbol of the sun also represents this achievement.
In operation, the Theia [Raya] ray is the harmonious, expansive, perfectionist principle, it reflects the virtue of Light or energy as defined in The Crystal Tablet and is also associated with the virtue of generosity.
[astronomical symbol of the moon] Moon; ray of Phoebe [Candrë]: the moon is the primary celestial symbol of the Daughter, Who in every sense is the Reconciler of Heaven and Earth. As perfect Maid, She stands between Essence and Materia at every level – that is to say, not only between the two principles in their strict philosophical sense, but also between the inward nature of everything and its outward manifestation: "I am between the ripple and the water; I am between the dancer and the dance; I am between the breathing and the breath; between the lightest word of greeting and the thought from which it flows." (Teachings of the Daughter) This is the highest principle in manifestation, and its symbolic colour, violet, is the highest colour of the spectrum. Its virtue, purity, or cimplicity, is said to contain all the other virtues. It governs the Silver Age, or Tetra Yuga.
Astronomically, the moon is earth's satellite, but she does not orbit the earth in the manner of a satellite to its gravitational centre. The earth's pull on the moon is secondary to that of the sun, which is the common centre of attraction for both. This symbolises the position of psyche, divided between the pull of Spirit (sun) and matter (earth), and the continual chioce which is the defining characteristic of Maid.
From the perspective of the present earth plane, the Phoebe [Candrë] Ray is particularly connected with the astral and other immediately super-physical spheres and the sphere of the moon is traditionally called "the first heaven". The ray governs contemplation and spiritual development. On a lower level, it governs divination and psychic faculties of all kinds.
[astronomical symbol of Venus] Venus; Ray of Tethys [Sushuri]: This is the first of the principles which incorporates Materia, and is therefore fully manifest at every level. The first two rays, and particularly that of Phoebe [Candrë], while certainly present at every level, are never fully "naturalised" in the material world, and are constantly drawing all within their sphere of influence "upwards" and beyond it. The Tethys Ray exists as the life-principle throughout all nature, but, symbolising Spirit dominant over matterm it maintains right relations wherever its influence predominates. In all things, matter serves the spiritual Reality which is its source and essence. Since Essence is the female pole and Materia the male, this is symbolised in a society by a matriarchal order; and the symbol of Venus is traditionally taken as the feminine symbol.
The virtue of this ray is love. At the highest level, this is the cosmic love defined in the Crystal Tablet. Love is the natural result of the Spirit-centred life: ...the greatest love is the love of the Goddess, and from this love all other loves flow." (C.T., 49).
[modified astronomical symbol Mars, followed by standard symbol in brackets] Mars; Ray of Niké [Vikhë]: This symbol is the reverse of the Venus symbol, or rather, as close to an inversion of it as is possible, for, just as Materia cannot have independent existence, neither can matter fully dominate Spirit. For this reason, the cross (or arrow in some later forms) is placed at an angle of 45 degrees, rather than directly above the circle.
In social terms, the inversion of right relations implied by this symbol is represented by a patriarchal order; and due to its inherent spiritual tendency, as well as to the magical vibrations set up by the invocatory symbols** of a male-dominated society, such as order is bound to lead by degrees to a materialistic state in which all spiritual truth is lost, and only matter (and eventually only the physical portion of that) is accepted as "real". Just as the Spirit-centred life leads naturally to love, so the matter centred life leads naturally to disharmony, conflict and strife, which are governed by this ray. It is the lowest of the principles, and its symbolic colour, red, is the lowest of the spectrum.
Nevertheless it has its beneficent aspect, and the virtue of courage, which it governs, is necessary at every level of manifest existence.
Mars governs the first Iron Age, of which we are now approaching the end in our present sub-cycle. This is the war-torn and materialistic Kali Yuga. There is a strong correspondence between Kali and certain phases of the Niké [Vikhë] Ray, since both represent the necessary destructive principle in manifestation; although Niké herself is a far more positive figure. The penultimate Bronze Age (Satya Yuga) is governed predominantly by Tethys [Sushuri], but also by Themis [Thamë], bronze being an alloy of copper and tin.
[crescent over cross, followed by astronomical symbol of Jupiter in brackets] Jupiter; Ray of Themis [Thamë]: In its highest aspect, this principle symbolises the governance of the Daughter over the material world. The name Themis means "order", and the meaning of this is the divine harmony which pervades the universe in its perfect state. Themis is said to be the sister of Tethys [Sushuri]. Both manifest the third virtue of the Crystal Tablet, but whereas Tethys manifests Love in the most usual usage of the word, Themis manifests Love in the sense of harmony or order: "It is Love that holds the stars within their courses ... truly all the cycles of the times and the seasons; all the rhythms of the soul and of the mind and of the body: truly all these flow from the love of our Lady the Maid, that creation may not decompose, each several member flying away into black eternal chaos" (C.T. 34–5). If the full implication of Maid's choice at the Fall had been realised, then cut off from the creative principle of the Mother, cosmos would degenerate into mere formless chaos. This degenerative impulse is represented by the Snake (Cf. Creation II, 2 and 13). But the impulse was checked by the Goddess (II, 15–16), and a new order was established, enabling Maid to continue in existence in a lower sphere – ie the material universe. This new order is symbolised by the appearance of the rainbow, whose seven colours represent the seven principles.
The principle of true order has so far been lost in Kali Yuga, that there is no word which adequately expresses it in any modern language. The Sanskrit term Dharma carries the correct sense, althought it has been mistranslated by western scholars and western-educated eastern ones alike. Themis [Thamë], used as an abstract noun is symbolically correct, though its full meaning must be gained through contemplation as well as explanation. Themis governs the customs, activities and the entire Active Life of a spiritually normal community, although to equate it with "law" in the profane sense, or even with morality, is completely to misunderstand it.
On a lower level, the principle represents the dominance of the human soul over her material surroundings, and therefore success in enterprises of every sort. The two levels are connected, since ultimate success can only come from acting in accordance with the principle of themis [thamë].
[cross over crescent, followed by astronomical sign of Saturn in brackets] Saturn; Ray of Rhea [Rhavë]: The symbol implies the domination of the human soul by matter, and in its lower manifestations, this principle is often connected with restriction and frustrations of all kinds, it is a limiting influence manifesting inertia. On the other hand, it has positive effects in the sphere of stability and security. Law in the profane sense is governed by Rhea rather than Themis [Thamë].
However, the principle also has a far higher significance, indicated by its virtue, humility. This virtue is second only to the purity of the lunar principle, and is bound up with the mystery of sacrifice. The invocation to Rhea [Rhavë] in the Rite of Offering contains the following words "Pour into the chalice of this soul the virtue of humility ... for it is written that she who would find herself must first lose herself. Madria Rhea, lead this soul into the mystic heart of humility.
In the Triad and Tetrad division of the planets, just as sun and moon are attributed to Mother and Daughter respectively, so Saturn is attributed to Absolute Deity, the Dark Mother. Saturn is the inverse of Jupiter, and in a certain sense represents the chaos or degenerative principle which is the reverse of themis [thamë]. But whatever exists on the lowest level applies by inverse analogy to the highest also. In her profoundest esoteric sense, Rhea [Rhavë] represents the mysterious Divine Principle of which the Snake is the maleficent parody.
[astronomical sign of Mercury] Mercury; Ray of Metis [Mati]: This ray is pure Intellect. Intelligence also has its virtue, although it is usually called wisdom in deference to the complete misinterpretation which has been almost universally applied to the concept of intelligence in Kali Yuga. Intellect should not be confused with reason. The latter is a material function possessed ina certain degree by all animals, though more highly developed in maid. Intellect is a Divine function which comes "down" from Spirit rather than "up" from matter. Reason is based ont he distinction between subject and object, but the realisation of pure Intellect dissolves all barriers between the "knower" and the "known". The truths of Intellect can never be expressed in words, the formulas which attempt to express them are merely "supports" designed to assist each maid toward her own intellectual "realisation" which is the only means of knowledge. It goes without saying that Intellect is wholly inaccessible to materialistic logic, "science" or "common sense", and that the modern world is quite literally without intelligence, at least in its pure form.
Sacred (or metaphysical) science and profane (or physical) sceince are like inverse images of one another. Rational theory is common to both, but the latter is wholly "downward"-directed, toward matter, basing its theories upon physical phenomena, checking them by physical experiments, and "consummating" them by application to physical technology. Sacred science, on the other hand, is based upon, and constantly referred back to the spiritual realisation of, pure Intellect, and its end or consummation is in spiritual progress. Neither one is in a position to contradict the other, since the refer to different orders of reality; but in terms of value-judgement, it is obvious that the higher may assess the lower, but not vice versa.
The complete unity of the soul with Reality – the "knower" with the "known" – is symbolised in the combination of all three elements, Heaven, Earth and Maid in one symbol. Maid takes the topmost position since, from the human perspective, it is she who is the "subject" of the realisation – though, like all rational formulations, this is obviously inadequate, since the subject-object relation has in reality dissolved.
This principle gives the key to the true meaning of esoteric doctrine. It is not that certain truths are "kept secret" as a matter of policy, but that until a particular soul has reached a certain level of intellectual development, she will not be able to "realise" the truths within herself, and the mere words will be worthless to her, even if they do not lead to harmful misinterpretations.
At lower levels, Metis [Mati] governs the communicative principle in all its forms.
The Geniae
We must now consider briefly the Geniae [Janyati] which govern the seven principles. THe outward forms given here are charged with a powerful symbolism, although the Geniae may appear in visions under different forms. When we speak of, for example, the daughter of a Genia [Janya], we are not, of course, referring to a physical relationship, but to a Genia or other entity operating "below" her in the same sphere. Nevertheless, the image is not merely figurative, but symbolises the ineffable equivalent of a personal relationship as it exists in those who transcend the limits of personality. We will take them in their spectral order.
Niké [Vikhë]: Usually seen as a warrior in a metal breastplate and short robe. Her head is wreathed with laurel and she has wings of an extremely wide span. She holds a sword, sometimes flaming. Traditionally she leads the forces of light in battle against the forces of darkness.
Theia [Raya]: A mature maid of majestic appearance, surrounded by a golden radiance; often riding upon a lion or drawn in a golden chariot by lions. Sometimes winged, sometimes not, she breathes a spirit of joy and abundance.
Metis [Mati]: Takes on many forms, but is often robed in yellow and seated cross-legged with palms facing outward in an attitude of Intellectual realisation and unbroken repose, like eastern representations of Tara. But at other times she becomes Nimwë, the enchantress and trickster. Her spirit animates the Ranya*** and all her unpredictable acts are made to lead the pupil to her own realisation; but theose who trust mere reason she leads in endless circles through the labyrinth of illusion until they shall see the folly of their ways. For matter is illusion and only the "single eye" of Intellect may penetrate it. Her principle daughter is Pallas Athene, the Genia [Janya] of wisdom and knowledge – in true science, based upn eternal Principles rather than on the contingent "facts" of the material realm.
Tethys [Sushuri]: dressed in flowing robes, sometimes, though not always, green, often standing upon the waves or surrounded by sea. She is never winged, but is of overwhelming beauty. Her name means "disposer" or "orderer" [?]**** – a title of the Mother as Creatrix, and essentially, she is said to reflect Her creative activity upon the material plane. She is the sister of Themis [Thamë].
Themis [Thamë]: The allegorical figure of "justice" is a corruption of the image of Themis, and sometimes she does hold a pair of scales, but more usually a lyre or other musical instrument, symbolising harmony. Grace and rhythm are her keynotes, rather than severity. The element of balance enters through the strict measure that is required to maintain the precision of music or dance. All her actions, al her movements are in perfect proportion. She is the embodiment of "The universal music of Eternity". She is usually winged and often robed in blue. Her principal daughter is Moira [Werdë], Genia [Janya] of personal fate.
Rhea [Rhavë]: may appear as an old woman carrying a scythe, or else as the Earth Mother, bearing a wooden staff, and surrounded by the half-light of deep forest. In each case she is a profoundly mysterious figure surrounded by an air of tremendous ancientness, stretching back beyond the very dawn of time. In both forms also, she is an awe-inspiring figure, but in the first there is also a deep but nameless feeling of dread associated with the vision.
Phoebe [Candrë]: a priestess veiled and robed in violet and/or silvery white. She is of a semi-ethereal appearance, and very youthful, often appearing as a child-priestess like those of certain matriarchal societies. She may also appear as Artemis, Our Lady of the Wild Things, sometimes accompanied by a fawn. In each case she is surrounded by a spirit of wildness in the sense of absolute purity and simpliity "Let your souls be simple as the running deer, My children, and your hearts as little children filled with wonder" (Teachings). Her purity leads beyond the boundaries of the world.
Ritual Correspondences
The following tables give various forms which correspond symbolically to the seven principles, and which may therefore be used and/or visualised in ritual invocation and meditation in order to attune oneself to the appropriate ray and to set up a sympathetic vibration which will attract its influence:
Table 1
Planet, Genia [Janya], colour, metal, keynote, tonic scale, Virtue
Mars, Niké [Vikhë], red, iron, E, Me, courage
Sun, Theia [Raya], orange, gold, C, Do, generosity
Mercury, Metis [Mati], yellow, mercury, F, Fa, wisdom
Venus, Tethys [Sushuri], green, copper, A, La, love
Jupiter, Themis [Thamë], blue, tin, G, So, faith
Saturn, Rhea [Rhavë], indigo, lead, B, Te, humility
Moon, Phoebe [Candrë], violet, silver, D, Re, purity
Table 2
Planet, gem, tree, creature, incense
Mars, ruby, holly, wolf, benzoin, aloes, sulphur, tobacco
Sun, diamond, birch, lion, saffron, myrrh, cloves, cinnamon
Mercury, opal, hazel, ewe, mastic, mace, storax, nutmeg
Venus, emerald, apple, dove, rose, amber, patchouli, sandlewood
Jupiter, sapphire, oak, eagle, balm, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon
Saturn, onyx, alder, crow, civet, musk, aloes, brimstone
Moon, crystal, willow, deer, frankincense, white sandlewood, jasmine, copal, eucalyptus
*In the Hindu tradition, which is closely related to matriarchal root-philosophies which preceded it, the two poles are called Purusha and Prakriti.
**The actions and customs of a social order are, of course, deeply symbolic, and their cumulative ritual force is effective, even if it is not intentional.
***A Ranya is one who has attained Intellectual realisation and guides her pupils to the same achievement. Other paths than that of pure Intellect also have their Ranyas.
****Cognate with Greek τιθέναι
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