Symbolism of the Rosy Cross
In a previous article I mentioned a group of occult orders loosely banded
together by their self-chosen title of Rosicrucians. This name has been
used by so many different groups through the years, and often is the only
similarity between them. The name derives from a mystical figure which has
been in existence since the 17th century at least, and constantly added
to.
Here I intend to present a discourse on the symbolism of the Rosy Cross,
based upon a monograph by Frater Achad (Charles Stansfield Jones, Aleister
Crowley's protégé and 'magical son'), although this is simply
a condensation of many other's work. I have revised it in language and content
to make it more easily understood, and have added to it with more recent
symbolism.
The key to the understanding of this subject is the Qabalah, the wealth
of Secret Hebrew Lore. Gematria, the art of combining the numerical forms
of words to derive symbolic correspondences is heavily extant throughout,
and basic natural symbolism is also used. Hence to fully understand the
nature of this is figure, one ideally needs a working knowledge of basic
gematria, which can be found in any work by contempory Qabalists. After
studying it, the fundamental question which you need to ask is whether this
is a true cipher of mystical knowledge, or whether it was contrived to justify
the tenets proposed by the qabalah.
000. The figure known as the Rosy Cross, or the Rosae Rubae et Aureae Crucis
is a complete symbol of qabalistic and hermetic knowledge of God; it is
impossible to define it further without going into an analysis of its components
and meaning.
00. It takes the basic form of a cross of six squares, the unfolded cube,
with a 22 petaled rose in the centre of the cross. Within this, there is
a smaller cross with a five petaled rose.
0. At the very centre of all, a single point of light resides and generates
all. This can be seen as Hadit (the infinitessimal point), or as the very
essence of man's being.
1. The five petaled rose, the Pentagram, stands for the Microcosm, man,
'as above so below', to quote the early Rosicrucians. It symbolises the
five senses of man, as well as the four elements of nature with Shin, spirit,
united to form man.
2. Four green barbs protrude at diagonals, showing that the rose is living
matter, each harmonising 2 of the elements from which Man devolves.
3. This rose lies upon a cross of gold, which is comprised of six squares,
and symbolises the Living White Stone cube. It proclaims the L.V.X., the
Light of the Cross, while bearing the Rose of Love, and thus proving it's
own Liberty. [L.L.L.L. = 120, in the very heart of Man] [ON = 120]
4. These elements are hidden at the very centre of a much greater Rose of
22 petals.
5. The 22 petals are arranged in three layers. The first, and inner-most,
layer comprises 3 petals, symbolising the 3 Mother letters of the Hebrew
alphabet:
Aleph Yellow Air 1
Mem Blue Water 40,600
Shin Red Fire 300
The fourth element Earth, is an admixture of the three former elements,
and thus the three may also symbolise Malkuth the Kingdom in it's most fundamental
aspect.
6. The second layer reveals the 7 Planetary Ruler letters of the Hebrew
alphabet:
Beth Mercury (8) 2
Gimel Moon (9) 3
Daleth Venus (7) 4
Kaph Jupiter (4) 20,500
Pé Mars (5) 80,800
Resh Sun (6) 200
Tau Saturn (3) 400
These planets rule the Sephira 3 p; 9, i.e. below Chokmah, and above
Malkuth.
7. Finally, 12 letters circle the Planetary Rulers, and represent the zodiacal
signs:
Hé Aries Fire 5
Vau Taurus Earth 6
Zain Gemini Air 7
Cheth Cancer Water 8
Teth Leo Fire 9
Yod Virgo Earth 10
Lamed Libra Air 30
Nun Scorpio Water 50,700
Samekh Sagittarius Fire 60
Ayin Capricorn Earth 70
Tzaddi Aquarius Air 90,900
Qoph Pisces Water 100
8. In the outer of this Rose, the petals tend to the Grey of Chokmah, which
is the balance of black & white. However, the inner, which is the focus
of the Great Rose, represents everywhere, and is the Kether of the scheme,
since the circumference of the Infinite Rose is nowhere. This then infers
again than Man, as the Microcosm, is of direct comparison with God, the
Macrocosm, and they are but two aspects of the same force. To quote again,
Man is God writ small.
9. Thus the 22 letters of the Holy Alphabet are rejoined with the 10 Sephiroth,
and thus reform the 32 great Paths of Wisdom. Hence the Great Rose of 22
petals is a cipher for all that IHShVH created, which encompasses the multiverse.
10. The influence of the Rose is that of MEZLA, which is the influence of
Kether the Crown.
11. Again it may be seen that with the expansion of the Rose of Five Petals
to the Rose of Twenty Two Petals, the Microcosm may become the Macrocosm,
the Great Work fulfilled.
12. The Greater Rose is located upon the juncture of the arms of the Cross
which has but 4 arms. The sum of 1 to 4 is 10, which again reaffirms the
10 Holy Sephiroth. It can also be seen that the symbolism of the Tetragrammaton,
representing the four arms are then affected by the appearance of Shin,
spirit, which forms the Pentagrammaton, and so presents the Rose as the
fifth member of the fourfold cross. In addition to this dogma, a further
interpretation of the Cross and the Rose is through the Law of the Triangle,
which, through the conjoining of two elements that are but parts of the
equation, the third point, the Rose comes into existence at the juncture
of the two, forming, three, which relates to the triangle, and thus Total
Perfection is achieved.
13. Here it may be seen that the Twenty Two Petals of the Greater Rose with
the 4 Arms of the Great Cross form the number 26, which is that of IHVH,
and again assert that all is but an extension of Him.
14. On each limb of the cross the Pentagram of Man, the four elements crowned
by Spirit are placed. Thus Man is the master of the Four Worlds, through
co-operation with the Macrocosmic Divine World, which is located on the
lower limb, below the Rose. This Divine World is symbolised within the Hexagram
of the Six Planets, with Sun in the centre of all.
15. Each limb of the Cross is triple in nature, with each Triplicity assigned
to the Three Alchemical principles of Sulphur, Mercury and Salt.
16. Again, a suggestion of the Twelve Circles of the Star Universe occurs,
with the Thirteenth point concealed within the midst of all. 13 is the number
of Unity, Achad, which is also that of One, in addition to the Twelve.
17. 13 is 1 + 3, which is 4. Four is the number which represents Matter,
the joining of the four elements, and is also the number of perfect stability.
It is also the number of the Tetragrammaton.
18. The barbed Rose Leaves which emanate from the centre of all are also
twelve in number, comprising 4 greater, and 8 lesser barbs, in triple units.
These may represent that 4 letters of IHVH as the greater, surrounded by
the 8 lesser, which stand for the matter and earth of all existence. From
this 13 may again be perceived, as these spring from the Rose of all Godly
Creation, and reaffirm that not only was IHVH the Creator, but the Son as
well. Thus from the One spring the Four and the Eight, giving interpretations
of 5, 9, and 13. 5 is the number of the Pentagrammaton, the Greater Barbs
with Shin an exemplar of the Rose. 9 is that of the universe, 8 which is
all matter added to One, which is God. 13 is again Unity of all within the
cosmic scheme.
19. Upon the Barbs are the Formulae of the Key-Word, I.N.R.I. This may be
expanded to give I.A.O., which is the formula of Osiris. Nature is ruined
by the Destroyer, and revived by the Redeemer. This formula is equivocal
to that of L.V.X., which is also formed by the Arms of the Cross.
20. The Key-Word is produced by the formulation of the L.V.X. from the Cross.
This equates with that of I.A.O. (Also of V.I.A.O.V.). I.A.O. may be expanded
to I.N.R.I. by the process of etymology through the Qabalah. For example
I is Isis, the Mother Principle of Nature, which is that of Virgo. Virgo
is represented by Yod, which is the initial I.
21. It can be seen then that the symbolism of this Rose and Cross encompasses
all of our conception of the Macrocosm and Microcosm, and is a true cipher
of the creative power of the One becoming the All, crystallised in the esoteric
figure above.
22. This is all but the first part of a symbolism which is finalised by
that of the Rose of 49 petals upon a Cross of but 5 squares. This final
and third Rose and Cross pertain to N.O.X., the Great Darkness, which is
an representation of Ain Soph, just as this Cross and Rose are the interpretation
of the Ain Soph Aur, the Limitless Light. There is a further interpretation,
that of the Nothingness, Ain, which is in fact not Void but Everything,
as can be represented by the mighty Azathoth, the Chaos principle. But this
is another, far greater matter altogether.
Matt D.A. Fletcher