9th Gateway - wintersolstice

To my joy discovered the site of Dan Sewell Ward  full of good essays and important themes for healing and the spiritualist. In fact it is perhaps one of the best spiritual sites out there? He refers to a good piece on Polanski's The Ninth Gateread as a piece of symbollistic qabalistic art: from brilliant Laurel Whitney's Tarok/Qabbalist (Commentaries) - hereby is recommended in its full length. Especially descriptions of the 8th and 9th gate are good I'm very interested in your comments on this. Here about the fifth gate and tridents,

Why does the figure of Death hold a trident instead of the traditional scythe? The function of the Indian god Shiva, that of transformation, has already been covered in the description of the related function of Scorpio. The symbolic figure of the devil also wields a trident-shaped 'pitchfork', though no one seems to have much insight into *why*, beyond its obvious use as a weapon with which to torment 'sinners'. But the symbolism of trident-wielding Neptune can shed some light on this. The Roman god Neptune commanded the water realm which is symbolically the realm of feeling. However, he was not associated with small bodies of water which might be compared to the feeling nature of the ego, but was the ruler of the vast, undivided expanse of the oceans symbolizing the Soul's Transcendent Higher Feeling realm in which the Soul recognizes no boundaries.

Astrological Neptune represents the ideal Spiritual energies of the Soul. Once you have made the return trip which unites ego with Soul, you are aware of the world as the Soul perceives it and this is the only proper context in which the transcendent energies of Neptune express themselves in an entirely positive way. 'Below' the Veil of Paroketh, before the ego becomes consciously aware of the Soul, the ego believes itself to be the ultimate master and interprets the visions of Neptune as if they were intended for itself. This is a delusion which brings nothing but disaster.

>The Soul knows itself to be connected to all other Souls and knowing this, sees all other human beings as spiritual equals. The ego, catching a glimpse of the ideal Neptunian vision, yet believing itself to be separate and apart from all other selves, appropriates the divine message as if it applied to itself alone and translates it as Balkan does:

"I alone have grasped the secret. I alone have fathomed the Master’s grand design. I alone am worthy to enjoy the fruits of that discovery: absolute power to determine my own destiny... I am invulnerable! I am invincible! I can float on air, walk on water! Behold, I plunge my hands in fire - I feel no heat. It's miraculous! I feel nothing, nothing at all!"

The film showed us just how well this delusion worked out for him.

Here Balkan demonstrates what is known as 'satanic pride' -- the Neptunian vision of the Soul subverted to serve the lower instincts and power drive of the lower mind and ego. The symbolic figure of the devil, representing unevolved, debased humanity, is usually red, the vibratory color of the lowest human energy, that of the animal instincts. It has cloven hooves, horns, and a tail, and clutches the trident of Neptune but, not being even fully human in its development, doesn't allow this transcendent energy to draw it 'up' the Tree in the direction of full humanity and union with Soul. Instead it deludes itself that Neptune's powers are its own, and attempts to use them to satisfy its animal appetites and instinctive drive for power. Only the repeated experience of disillusionment and destructive consequences can break the negative Neptunian spell and convince a 'devilish' human that he is *not* the personal equal of God.

and that...

To return to the Fifth Gate, only the individual himself can know when the sands of satisfaction with materialism have completely run out. At that moment, he will stop seeing reflected back to him in the watery barrier of Paroketh the vision of his own continuing desire for material riches and possessions that only serve to feed the vanity of his ego. Once he is no longer dominated by the illusive ego desires which would draw him 'downward' on the Tree, he is free to be inspired by the true vision of Neptune. He can then direct the same powerful will that was once devoted to material goals towards the attainment of spiritual goals, until the Love of the Soul ultimately draws him 'upward' into a union of ego with Soul at the central balance point of the Tree at Tiphareth.

For those like Balkan who are still entranced by the illusion that material power and possessions can provide ultimate satisfaction, as in the AT version, the sand is still in the upper chamber of the hourglass and the death/transformation of the lower mind/ego which leads to ultimate union with the Soul will have to wait until this negative Neptunian spell which deludes the ego is broken. Appropriately enough, in the Latin phrase assigned to the Fifth Gate, the word 'frustra' can also be translated as 'deceived'. http://www.halexandria.org/dward900.htm

The process is unfolding right now. Somehow it is all connected to a kind of portal into 2010. The underworld theme being a resonator. Check out her note on John's Revelations too.