A Restoration of Alchemical Hermetic Kabbalistic Truths in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

There are many translations of the Emerald Tablet, as well as quite a few commentaries. Their essence is the same, though the variant shades of meaning are interesting. I have not yet seen an LDS commentary on what the tablet may well mean within and for an LDS tradition. I will provide an LDS commentary here, for comparison/contrast with the realization that this is my own individual understanding and idea on what this could mean. I will simply make

a few suggestions and show a few instructive parallels. Here I produce a translation from the Arabic of the priest Sagijus of Nabulus, which is a most complete translation.

Tabula Smaragdina

Here (is) a true explanation, concerning which there can be no doubt.

It attests: The above (comes) from the below, and the below from the above - the work of the miracle of the One.

And things have been (formed) from this primal substance through a single act. How wonderful is this work! It is the main (principle) of the world and is its maintainer.

Its father is the sun, and its mother the moon; the wind has borne it in its body, and the earth has nourished it.

(it is) the father of Talismen and the protector of miracles,

Whose powers are perfect, and whose lights are confirmed(?),

A fire that becomes earth. Separate the earth from the fire,

So you will attain the subtle as more inherent than the gross,

With care and sagacity.

It rises from earth to heaven, so as to draw the lights of the

Heights to itself, and descends (again) to the earth; thus

Within it are the forces of the above and the below; because

The light of lights (is) within it, thus does the darkness flee

From it.

(It is) the force of forces, which overcomes every subtle thing

And penetrates into everything gross.

The structure of the small world (microcosm) is in accordance

With the structure of the great world (macrocosm).

And accordingly proceed the knowledgable.

And to this inspired Hermes, who was threefold graced with wisdom.

And this is his last book, which he concealed in the chamber.

[1]

In a rather simple, yet poignant summarization in a mere line, the Emerald Tablet, and Hermeticism’s overall philosophy is one of “aspir[ing] to the synthesis of the diverse planes of the macrocosm and microcosm.”[2] That is, on the earthly plane in relation to our entire universe, we, as humans, are a microcosm of the universe in our very bodies. The small is the big, and vice versa. Every law, vicissitude, love, hope, fear, faith, and breath in us, is also possessed by the universe. This is the ancient doctrine of the “World Soul,” which “divine body” is said to “reside and move itself in the sphere of heaven, and even makes the sphere of heaven revolve.[3]

This is one of the ancient religious teachings of the Gnostics, Hermeticists, Kabbalists, and many other groups. It is also one of the best kept secret teachings of the ancient Hebraic Priesthood. As in the Hebraic Preisthood, Hermeticism also taught that “the divine soul resides in the divine body, and residing therein, moves itself… the human soul has in it something that is divine.”[4] This has everything to do with understanding the Emerald Tablet’s strange teachngs.

In a remarkable analysis of the roots of alchemy, Leonora Leet quote the Jewess, Maria Hebraea’s teachings of cosmological principles believed by the ancients.

One becomes two, two becomes three, and by means of the third and fourth achieve unity; thus two are but one… Join the male and the female, and you will find what is sought…if you do not render the corporeal substances incorporeal, and the incorporeal substances corporeal, and if you do not make the two bodies one, nothing of the expected will be produced… She [Maria} said, …”Transform nature, and make the spirit which is hidden inside this body come out… Destroy the body, and make it become water, and extract that which is in it…The ‘water’ which I have mentioned is an angel, and descends from the sky, and the earth accepts it on account of its [the earth’s] moistness. The water of the sky is held by the water of the earth.

[5]

The hermetic tradition deriving from a primordial “royal” and “heroic” antiquity, is all about the fundamental traditional teaching [elaborated by Maria Hebraea above] of the doctrine of the “two natures.” As it connects the human with the divine realms this doctrine states that “there is the nature of the immortals and the nature of the mortals; the higher regions of ‘those who are,’ and the lower regions of ‘becoming.’ The idea that these two branches could have originally been one single thing (according to Hesiod’s thinking, by which ‘one is the lineage of men and the other of the gods, both proceeding from a single matrix’) and that the duality is simply the consequence of the fall of the one and the ascension of the other (according to the hermetico-Heraclitean conception of the god as an ‘immortal man’ and of man as a ‘mortal god’) did not keep the differentiation from being intrinsic and essentially twofold.”[6]

We have an overlapping and fusion of traditions which help explain what the Emerald Tablet is teaching in its obtuse (deliberately so, Incidentally) language. Leet discovered that the Kabbalistic ideas of the “divine personalities,” the Partzufim, as they are called, illuminates Maria’s teachings considerably.

On the Kabbalah Tree of Life, the names of the ten sephirot both define the attributes of a single divine figure and the five partzufim into which they are transformed in the course of cosmic history… As Partzufim Keter [the crown, the uppermost sephirot on the Kabbalah Tree of Life] is identified with Arikh Anpin (Long Face). From this Partzufim both the Father and Mother (Abba, and Imma) originate. Abba and Imma’s “continuous mating is responsible both for the continuous process of creation and the generation of the originally androgynous (that is, neither male nor female) Ze’ir Anpin (Short Face). This Ze’ir Anpin, the Short Face, is the son figure identified with the six Sephirot from Chesed to Yesod. The daughter, called the “Nukvah”, the bride-daughter whose is identified with Malkuth, mates intermittently with Ze’ir Anpin (the son figure) and together they in turn “generate the higher souls of the righteous.”[7]

And another hint of connection is when we realize that the six-Sephirot Partzuf, the son, the most important, combines the divine upper triad (Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferet) with a human lower triad (Netzach-Hod-Yesod), which is a unification of the finite with the infinite that fulfills and models the purpose of creation. These higher righteous souls can recognize their identity with the supernal son and thus achieve unification of these two levels of divine sonship. When we combine these ideas with the alchemical view of Maria Hebraea, the overlapping becomes at once obvious.

“One [Arikh Anpin - the Long Face] becomes two [Abba - Father and Imma, Mother], two [Abba and Imma] becomes three [Ze’ir Anpin - the Short Face, and Son], and by means of the third [Ze’ir Anpin] and fourth [the Nukvah - the female of Ze’ir Anpin and daughter-bride] achieves unity [a metaphorical sexual union] thus two are but one. This unification of the transcendent incorporeal with the immanent corporeal is understood by Maria to mean the descending water or angel through which nature can be transformed to realize the spirit within it. The child is born for them in the air, one whose perfection consists precisely in the conjunction of both the purified qualities from above and below, the Divine Son, of which we humans are also.[8]

This is precisely the meaning of the Emerald Tablet’s teaching - “The above (comes) from the below, and the below from the above - the work of the miracle of the One.”

Both the cosmological level and earthly levels are involved in this work of transformation. The Emerald Tablet further notes - “And things have been (formed) from this primal substance through a single act. How wonderful is this work! It is the main (principle) of the world and is its maintainer.”

This is precisely understood as a partnership of the heavenly and earthly involvement with creation, involving both sexes, as the Emerald Tablet teaches - “Its father is the sun, and its mother the moon; the wind has borne it in its body, and the earth has nourished it.”

(it is) the father of Talismen and the protector of miracles,

Whose powers are perfect, and whose lights are confirmed(?),

A fire that becomes earth. Separate the earth from the fire,

So you will attain the subtle as more inherent than the gross,

With care and sagacity.

The way the Zohar describes this is precisely in line with the Emerald Tablet as well. “To say to Zion “You are ammi, my people!” To say to those gates, those distinguished words, these above those” ‘You are ammi, my people… do not read ‘You are ammi, my people,’ but rather, ‘You are immi, with Me, becoming my partner! Just as I made heaven and earth by speaking as is said, By the Word of YHVH, the heavens were made (Ps 33:6), so do you.”[9]

The LDS understanding is precisely this. In the LDS Periodical, the Messenger & Advocate, W. W. Phelps wrote, “know that the Spirit of God is an index to eternal life. To the end of our lives, let us please God, that we may be quickened in the resurrection, and become angels, even Sons of God, for an eternity of glory, in a universe of worlds, which have ever taught, and will forever.

Teach mankind, as they shine.

God's done his part,—do thine!”[10]

The idea of partnership is poetically described with appropriate apt rapture as well. “…the effluance of thy light divine, Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too; Yes, in my spirit doth thy spirit shine As shines the sun-beam in a drop of dew. Nought!—but I live, and on hope's pinions fly, Eager toward thy presence; for in thee I live, and breathe, and dwell; aspiring high; Even to the throne of thy Divinity. I am, O God, and surely thou must be!”[11]

As with the ancient Hermetic, alchemical, and Jewish Kabbalistic understanding, so the LDS understand the divinity that we possess.

“The Apostle Paul, in speaking of man as a resurrected being, says, "Who (Jesus) shall change our vile body, that it might be fashioned like unto his glorious body," which harmonised with what John says, "It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him." Our bodies will be glorified in the same manner as his body is; then we shall be truly in his image and likeness, for as he is immortal, having a body of flesh and bone, so we will be immortal, possessing bodies of flesh and bones. Will we ever become Gods? Let me refer you to the answer of the Savior to the Jews when accused of blasphemy because he called himself the Son of God. Says he, "Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If ye called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scriptures cannot be broken." This clearly proves to all Bible believers that in this world, in our imperfect state, being the children of God, we are destined, if we keep his commandments, to grow in intelligence until we finally become like God our Father. By living according to every word which proceeds from the mouth of God, we shall attain to his likeness, the same as our children grow up and become like their parents; and, as children through diligence attain to the wisdom and knowledge of their parents, so may we attain to the knowledge of our Heavenly Parents, and if they be obedient to this commandment they will not only be called the sons of God, but be gods.”

[12]

The principle that we already are divine, though in a human nature is also understood in LDS theology.

“A few words more upon the subject of the eternal existence of the soul. It is hard for mankind to comprehend that principle. The philosophers of the world will concede that the elements of which you and I are composed are eternal, yet they believe that there was a time when there was no God. They cannot comprehend how it is that God can be eternal. Let me ask this congregation, Can you realise the eternity of your own existence? Can you realise that the intelligence which you receive is eternal? I can comprehend this, just as well as I can that I am now in possession of it. It is as easy for me to comprehend that it will exist eternally, as that anything else will…They are organized for an eternal existence. If this congregation could comprehend that the intelligence that is in them is eternal in its nature and existence; if they could realize that when Saints pass through the vail, they are not dead, but have been laying the foundation in these tabernacles for exaltation, laying the foundation to become Gods, even the sons of God, and for crowns which they will yet receive…”

[13]

The remarkable teaching in the Emerald Tablet, is very understandable from an LDS view. The Emerald Tablet says:

Within it are the forces of the above and the below; because

The light of lights (is) within it, thus does the darkness flee

From it.

(It is) the force of forces, which overcomes every subtle thing

And penetrates into everything gross.

The structure of the small world (microcosm) is in accordance

With the structure of the great world (macrocosm).

And accordingly proceed the knowledgable.

The LDS view is quite amazingly similar!

We are created for the express purpose of increase. There are none, correctly organized, but can increase from birth to old age. What is there that is not ordained after an eternal law of existence? It is the Deity within us that causes increase. Does this idea startle you? Are you ready to exclaim, "What! the Supreme in us!" Yes. He is in every person upon the face of the earth. The elements that every individual is made of and lives in, possess the Godhead. This you cannot now understand, but you will hereafter. The Deity within us is the great principle that causes us to increase, and to grow in grace and truth

.[14]

The early LDS leaders and speakers were ecstatic about the eternal nature of our existence.

everything we have to do with is eternal; and when we speak of time and eternity, they are only relative terms which we attach to things that are present, and things that are to come, and things that are past. But in relation to ourselves as individuals, we are eternal beings, although we occupy a certain space of eternity called time… And while we are acting upon this stage of being, we are merely commencing a state of things that will exist while countless ages shall roll along; and if we have right views and right feelings, and entertain correct principles as eternal beings, all our thoughts, our actions, our prospects—all our energies and our lives, will be engaged in laying a foundation upon which to build a superstructure that will be permanent, lasting, and enduring as the throne of the great Jehovah…

[15]

The Emerald Tablet, and LDS view are similar in another aspect as well. The Emerald Tablet teaches -

The light of lights (is) within it, thus does the darkness flee

From it.

(It is) the force of forces, which overcomes every subtle thing

And penetrates into everything gross.

The structure of the small world (microcosm) is in accordance

With the structure of the great world (macrocosm).

Maria Hebraea taught -

Transform nature, and make the spirit which is hidden inside this body come out…

The LDS revelations and leaders teach -

It is eternal life, because it is freedom from the chains of darkness, from the dominion of error—an emancipation from that bondage that makes man, in his existence, wretched and miserable… What is it? It is the light that is within us. The revelation says "It is the light of our eyes that enlighteneth our understandings." And what is this? It is the God we see in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, for He is the light thereof, and the power by which they were made

.[16]

The unity which both the Emerald Tablet and Marie Hebraea taught is also understood in the LDS theology.

A perfect oneness will save a people, because intelligent beings cannot become perfectly one only by acting upon principles that pertain to eternal life. Wicked men may be partially united in evil; but, in the very nature of things, such a union is of short duration. The very principle upon which they are partially united will itself breed contention and disunion to destroy the temporary compact. Only the line of truth and righteousness can secure to any kingdom or people, either of earthly or heavenly existence, an eternal continuation of perfect union…

[17]

Marie Hebraea taught:

One becomes two, two becomes three, and by means of the third and fourth achieve unity; thus two are but one… Join the male and the female, and you will find what is sought…if you do not render the corporeal substances incorporeal, and the incorporeal substances corporeal, and if you do not make the two bodies one, nothing of the expected will be produced.

The LDS teaching clearly parallels this:

The Lord has done every thing He can do in justice and in truth; in His mercy and in His longsuffering and kindness there is nothing He has neglected, in order to put into the possession of this people power to secure to themselves eternal day, eternal peace, instead of eternal misery. Eternal glory, happiness, beauty, power, exaltation, excellency, and every good thing are prepared for the Elders that now sit before me to enter into the presence of the Father and the Son, where they could be exalted, sit with the Gods, be crowned with immortality and eternal lives; become the fathers, not only of many nations, but of an endless posterity; be the framers, not only of a kingdom, but of an endless chain of kingdoms. Nothing more can be done, than what has been done

.[18]

My brief and cursory analysis of parallel ideas and thinking I believe shows that we can profit greatly, not only from our own traditions and teachings, but understanding from the best of other ancient mystery traditions. It really is fascinating to realize that perhaps Joseph Smith was not so far off in saying a restoration has occurred!

Endnotes

1. Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism, (hereafter cited as Meditations), Element Books, 1985: 25.

2. Meditations: 48.

3. Walter Scott, Hermetica: The Ancient Greek and Latin Writings which Contain Religious or Philosophic Teachings Ascribed to Hermes Trismegistus, Kessinger Republishing, (no date), Vol 3: 349.

4. Scott, Ibid., p. 350.

5. Leonora Leet, The Universal Kabbalah: Deciphering the Cosmic Code in the Sacred Geometry of the Sabbath Star Diagram, Inner Traditions, 2004: 7.

6. Julius Evola, La tradizione ermetica: Nei suoi simboli, nella sua dottrina e nella sua “Arte Regia,“ translated by E. E. Rehmus, The Hermetic Tradition: Symbols & Teachings of the Royal Art, Inner Traditions, 1995: 94-95.

7. Leet, Universal Kabbalah, p. 8.

8. Leet, Universal Kabbalah, p. 8.

9. Daniel C. Matt, The Zohar, Pritzker edition, Stanford University Press, Vol. 1, 2004: Haqdamat Sefer ha-Zohar: 27-28.

10. Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1 (October 1834-September 1835), Vol. 1 January, 1835 No. 4, 51. Cf. Messenger and Advocate, vol. 1 (October 1834-September 1835), Vol. 1 March, 1835 No. 6, 82 - “Lucifer, has drawn away a third part of heaven; has his millions of the children of this world, and, may be, the worst from worlds, yet, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, by the power of his Spirit, will overcome all the enemies of grace and glory, and even death and happiness, and joy, and perfection, and eternal life will roll on in eternity an undivided one…”

11. Messenger and Advocate, vol. 3 (October 1836-September 1837), Vol. 3 June, 1837 No. 33, 528.

12. Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 18: 292, (Herafter cited as JD).

13. JD,1: 5 - 6.

14. JD,1: 93.

15. JD, 1:366. Cf. JD, 2:91 - “This is the lesson we should study. The powers of our minds and bodies should be governed and controlled in that way that will secure to us an eternal increase. While the inhabitants of the earth are bestowing all their ability, both mental and physical, upon perishable objects, those who profess to be Latter-day Saints, who have the privilege of receiving and understanding the principles of the holy Gospel, are in duty bound to study and find out, and put in practice in their lives, those principles that are calculated to endure, and that tend to a continual increase in this, and in the world to come. All their earthly avocations should be framed upon this principle. This alone can insure to them an exaltation; this is the starting point, in this existence, to an endless progression. All the ideas, cogitations, and labors of man are circumscribed by and incorporated in this great principle of life.”

16. JD, 3: 169-170. Cf. JD, 4:218 - “The principle of eternal lives is an eternal existence, eternal duration, eternal exaltation.”

17. JD, 7:277-278.

18. JD, 4: 197-198.

Comments

[David Littlefield]

Good stuff!

Here are a couple more translations )non-LDS)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet

[Kerry Shirts]

Thanks for the links. I never thought of looking at the wiki..... There is so much more to this alchemy jazz that its not evn funny. I have so many other things I want to get to, so I can tie in all things as I can. I know my personal interpretation of the Emerald Tablet is not what alchemists thnk, but I am simply rummaging around throwing out ideas to ponder and see if anything else clicks.

On the other hand, I think I can take what I posted here and run with it for quite while! lol........

[David Littlefield]

Here is the respected Sanford L. Drob’s remarks on Alchemy in his paper; JUNG AND THE KABBALAH.

"Jung's Interpretation of Alchemy
Jung provides a similar if more daring and far reaching interpretation of alchemy. According to Jung, what the alchemist sees in matter, and understands in his formulas for the transmutation of metals and the derivation of the prima materia, "is chiefly the data of his own unconscious which he is projecting into it" (Jung, 1937/1968, p. 228). For example, the alchemist_s efforts to bring about a union of opposites in the laboratory and to perform what is spoken of as a "chymical wedding" are understood by Jung as attempts to forge a unity, e.g., between masculine and feminine, or good and evil aspects of the psyche (Jung, 1937/1968). "The alchemical opus", Jung tells us, "deals in the main not just with chemical experiments as such, but with something resembling psychic processes expressed in pseudochemical language" (Jung, 1932/1968, p. 242)."

"I n his Mysterium Coniunctionis Jung (1955-6/1963) provides a catalog of alchemical symbols which are rich in spiritual and psychological significance. Many of the most significant of these symbols, including the notions of Adam Kadmon, the divine spark in humanity, the union of the cosmic King and Queen, and the divine nature of evil (each of which Jung regarded as foundational for his later psychology) were imported into alchemy from the Kabbalah."

His paper can be found at: http://www.newkabbalah.com/Jung2.html

Also check out: http://www.newkabbalah.com/home.html

-David

[David Littlefield]

Kerry: I took the liberty of adding a link to the Wiki for you. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet#The_tablet_text

[David Littlefield]

I think they (Wiki) did not like me putting an eternal link in the section I edited, so they pulled it. Or perhaps they don't like links to blogs, but prefer links to static data.
-David

[Micky]

About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. God LOVES me so much. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].

Peace Be With You
Micky