From a Thelemic point of view, let us consider that Hadit, the central
core of our being, is not a static principle; He is rather in constant
motion, fulfilling all of His possibilities in Nuit. Without Nuit, Hadit is a
meaningless principle. Now Hadit is the Sun, a Unit of the Macrocosm or
a single point concentrating Space, and Nuit is the Goddess of Infinite
Space and the Infinite Stars thereof. Nuit is identifiable with the Twelve
Signs of the Zodiac which represent in Astrology the Macrocosm or
Universe. The Sun expresses and experiences itself as a unity through
the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac; or, in other terms, Hadit fulfills himself
by combining with Nuit for the birth of Ra-Hoor-Khuit who represents, in
Thelemic Qabalah, a unity which includes and heads all things, or a
"Unity of Unities."
The Sun of Unity is only such by way of his being the Many. One in itself
means nothing. Life demands multiplicity of expression. Only thus can
true integration be achieved. Unity or Oneness is a meaningless reality
without multiplicity. It has been said that All is a mask of the One. It is
more appropriate in this place to say that THE ONE IS A MASK OF THE
ALL.
The Ascendant is the place on the Horoscope where the Sun is located at
sunrise, and it is the point of individual self-hood and self-awareness; it
indicates by its Sign and degree the Probationer as a self-conscious
entity; it is the most personal factor in his Horoscope. The Sign of the
Ascendant, or the Sign rising over the eastern horizon at the time of his
birth, is significant of the nature and powers of his own being. Thus to
memorize and apply the chapter that corresponds to his Rising Sign
serves to contribute to the fulfillment of his Oath, preparing him for his
initiation in the A :. A :., to become a Neophyte and commence the
process of ascending the Tree of Initiation.
In /I A Note upon Liber 963" we read the following:
1. Let the student recite this book, particularly the 169
Adorations, unto his Star as it ariseth.
2. Let him seek out diligently in the sky his Star; let
him travel thereunto in his Shell; let him adore it
unceasingly from its rising even unto its setting by the
right adorations, with chants that shall be harmonious
therewith.
3. Let him rock himself to and fro in adoration; let
him spin around his own axis in adoration; let him
leap up and down in adoration.
4. Let him inflame himself in the adoration, speeding
from slow to fast, until he can no more.
18
The Path Workings of Aleister Crowley
5. This also shall be sung in open places, as heaths,
mountains, woods, and by streams and upon islands.
6. Moreover, ye shall build you fortified places in
great cities; caverns and tombs shall be made glad with
your praise.
7. Amen.
We view our Star as our Holy Guardian Angel. This Angel, or Star, is our
own Inmost Self. This Angel, or Star, is our own Inmost Self. It is who we
are in truth, a Sun or single concentration of Nuit, a Celestial Unit of
Infinite Space. To seek out and travel to this Star in your Shell is to
discover its appropriate location in the Heavens, that is, in the
appropriate Constellation of Stars, and to travel thereunto in your Astral
Body of Light.
A Path Working is a method of rising in your Body of Light to a chosen
place or Path in the Astral Plane. This Astral Plane is called the World of
Yetzirah in Qabalistic Philosophy. The Treasure House of Images is
another name for the Astral World in which is contained the Yetziratic
Tree of Life. A Path Working is generally done by ascending the Yetziratic
Tree of Life in your Astral Body to a particular Path on the Tree. The
Twelve Signs of the Zodiac pertain to twelve of the Paths on the Tree of
Life. The Planets which rule these Signs also pertain to certain Paths on
the Tree. (See illustration of the Tree of Life at the end of this book.)
The Paths are the twenty-two connecting links between the ten
Sephiroth or Circular Spheres. These twenty- two Paths correspond with
the twenty-two Hebrew letters and the twenty-two Major Arcana of
Tarot or Atu of Thoth.
