A Small Essay, Predominantly on Hope

Perhaps the Wisdom of God is symbolized by the lofty hawk or eagle because from the Almighty's perspective, all connections between incidents are perceived. All potential pasts and futures are observable from these great heights. It may truly be said of this Knowledge that man is not fit to wield it of his own accord. For man as we tend to understand him knoweth himself not, nor his neighbor, and his nature is such that he is oblivious and impervious to all connections between things and events, being too concerned with his own miniature world and its experiences. Man is all too often full of weakness and ignorance as to be able to successfully harness such a great Knowledge toward any end other than base self-gratification, and it would be most unwise for him to manipulate it simply for such reasons. And yet, he must use it in a way that is responsibly in tune with himself as he is intended to be, and therefore one can easily suggest that the use of Knowledge must be inherently geared toward self-preservation, for lack of a better word. By "self-preservation," I really mean to say, "the process by which an individual maintains their own purity." For man "liveth not on bread alone," but also by the spirit, who is entirely pure in substance and nature. But to return to my original point, such Knowledge is not wholly banned from man's grasp (as any mystic will tell you) for the axis upon which this Knowledge of all things revolves is the Self. To know oneself is to know one's past, present, and future. It is to hold the keys to all possible realities, and to possess the foresight and prudence to know which ones are not possible. For our relationship with the Universe is represented best by the nail, the letter Vav, the Son of the Holy Name, Tetragrammaton. We are undeniably pinned to the events that occur around us; that which transpires within exhales into the without, and whatever we are exposed to without we inhale inwards. Thus, there is a constant flow of influence in the shape of the lemniscate, or symbol for infinity. "Change is stability." God is expressed by but also beyond both these concepts, for neither heaven nor earth may contain him. He is not solely in the world around us and he is not solely within the human spirit. His Representative may be found and the junction-point between the two, and this is Adonai, the Holy Reconciler and Judge who perceives one's life as it truly is. But this is simply the most pure representation of God that we may know in the flesh. The purest idea of God exists beyond even this, beyond all ideas of here or there, or I and they, in a state in which neither of these polarities exist. God in this condition simply must be the great I AM WHO AM, Eheieh, Kether the Crown of the Qabbalists, and this is the true idea of paradise, the Kingdom of God. He is as a child who is conqueror of all things, or as a seed that has been scattered everywhere and nowhere at once. It is impossible to attempt to say anything about him, for any said thing about him is a blasphemy against his holiness, and therefore to men his Wisdom seems as folly.

I say all this because of two concerns. The first is that the Tarot, being a representation of both God's Wisdom and Understanding, can show us, after meditation and appeal for aid from the Angel, these lofty perspectives. Therefore, the Tarot can be a dreadfully potent tool, one to be greatly respected by all men, however blessed, who know not necessarily how best to use the wisdom it imparts (except through the council of their Guardian Angels, but this is an experience achieved by relatively few of our race, or at least it would seem given the current state of affairs). Therefore it is imperative that we seek to redeem this Art from the piteous state it is often cast into - often being called "fortune-telling" and the like - for in this Art lies Hope. Hope is perhaps the most characteristically human virtue, the belief that out of utter despair and desolation something may be done by our bold hands to remedy things and strive forward to a different tomorrow. Perhaps not even a tomorrow that will immediately shine brighter but perhaps at least a tomorrow that will lead to further tomorrows that shine progressively brighter with optimism. No other being on God's great earth carries hope in its heart and relies upon it so heavily for its own survival. It is therefore safe to suggest that Hope is truly Power, which is truly in turn Wisdom, and therefore Hope is a force that elevates us to God's own place in the Universe. For if God can create a world out of blackest nothing, then surely we, being made in his likeness and who have tremendous power to change the future, can also build out of bleakest horror something of worth, something worth protecting and believing in, simply because we have Hope - the desire to make change. Simply because we believe somewhere in our hearts that the seemingly impossible just might be possible, even if for a moment. And so this is my second, more pertinent concern that has weighed heavily on my mind and the minds of many others this week, I am sure. That in the face of oppressive tragedy we must cling to hope firmer than ever, and we must choose to believe that out of this aching trauma something good can come. For if we give in to the darkness and see it simply as misfortune there will no longer be any light to cast it away. It is our moral responsibility to preach the light, and defend it, and love it, and hold true to it despite the raging darkness because believing in the light is what makes us human. It's what gives us empathy, and courage, and creativity, and it being an emanation from God Himself, it urges us to fight for the betterment of the world for all peoples by turning chaos into order, darkness into light, and despair into Hope.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, take hope that even though all may seem lost in a void of meaningless violence, some good may arise from these wastes, though it may not yet nor ever be seen by eye or heard by ear. The Spirit moves in many ways, and we must believe in It and ourselves enough to stand for what we know is true and just in these sad moments.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come home again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Psalm 126

On Advent

Beloved: Hold fast the season of Advent in your hearts so that you may find the hidden glory concealed therein. As the Lord is born in the midst of winter's darkness, so are hope, faith, and love out of penance. The alchemists refer to penance by another word, and that is "putrefaction." In the acknowledgement of our own disobedience and the understanding of God's mercy and justice we may experience that love of which mystics speak - the blazing fire that does not burn. The love we find through the process of decay is bittersweet, an intoxicating poison that corrodes and enkindles. In an instant one feels both bliss and grief. It is a love full of desperation and longing and submission. But in those moments, however brief (as they often are), God lays a gentle hand on our hearts and coaxes out our shut-up stores of love. The result is the birth of a New Man, born out of the Virgin's womb, which is the vessel of personal consciousness which we all bear.

Yea, He is the Savior, Yeheshua, Christ the Lord, thy Holy Guardian Angel, thy Confessor, and thy Beloved. 

Therefore, beloved, pray through this Advent season that you may be a suitable vessel for the Lord your God. Make in your heart room for Him, for without Him you are truly lost and despairing. There is only one hope, and that is in Him - I do swear this to you in love and confidence. Reflect upon yourself and your disobedience toward Him, for disobedience is the root of all sin. Pray for the fear of the Lord to fall upon you so that you may come to tread His path with conviction and sincerity. Fear not the petty dictates of man, but listen to words of Him, who is the Father's beautiful and wise Son, who shall instruct you in the paths that are right and who will guide you away from the paths that are wicked. And though in God's great justice these are different for all, He does perform these deeds for all people, and for that we do bless His holy Name, forever and ever, Amen. There is no greater love than this, my brothers and sisters, and so offer Him your greatest thanksgiving. There is no greater joy, no greater bliss than to offer praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord your Creator, He who hath fashioned Heaven and Earth out of nought, and He who calls out your name in gladness so that you might be saved from the wickedness of your ways. For he who believes he is without sin is a liar. Amen. These things of old have been written for they are the truth and the truth is undying. Give not the tongue of reason your ear so that it may not pollute your interior understanding and illumination. For the Lord in His mercy speaks to you at all times but you have not the ears or the hearts to hear Him because you are too distracted by Because, which is nothing other than the knowledge that is most convenient at that time to know. Because and its twin Reason are not of the Truth because they are transient. They do pass away with the procession of time, but there is the Truth that remains forever. Know instead that there is reason and reason, just as there is love and love. The one is perceptive and adaptable, the other is rigid and blind. 

Therefore, take heed and repent. Reflect. Meditate. Call upon Him who is your Savior - His name is known only to your innermost heart, and it is a name you will thirst for, a name you will say in fervor and adoration and utmost praise. His name shall be the most beautiful word you will ever know because it is the name of your God, and nothing will be more true or right to you that it. Beloved, there is nothing I can say or do to make you believe, and this is my greatest sadness. I can only point you in this path and swear to you with all my soul that these words are most true and important. There is no cure for all this endless grief until the World is wrapped up in love and understanding of its Creator. All other sadnesses are comparatively small and brief for this sadness is as old as Creation itself, and shall last until its End, and it is so for all people. But take great hope, for there is plentiful Redemption, and there is plentiful love and joy available for all. Know and trust that we all do have a God who works for and through us because His love and zeal is so immense that no barrier, not even space or time, can ever separate these forces from us and our lives. 

Celebrate this Advent season with humility, penance, and love. Always act with love, for all acts are irrelevant if they are without love.