Th e S e v e n Libe ra l Arts Of Ma s o n ry B y Kevin T ow n ley Th e west is r ich in it s m yt h , pa n t h eon s a n d s p ir it u a l t r a d it ion s , wh ich in cor p or a t e t h e st u dy of t h e r ela t ion sh ip of m a n t o h is self, t o h is en vir on m en t , a n d t o t h e cosm os. Ou r elder br ot h er s a n d sist er s h a ve cr ea t ed pa r t icu la r d is cip lin es t o a s s is t u s in ou r p er s on a l d e v e l op m e n t . B e y on d the p e r s on a l developm en t t h er e is wor k t h a t ca n be t a k en on t o a ssist u s in ou r gr ou p wor k. P er h a ps t h e m ost sign ifica n t t ool t h a t h a s been given t o u s is t h a t of Ma son r y. Alt h ou gh Ma son r y a s a n in st it u t ion h a s st r a yed fr om it s pr ist in e in t en t ion , it st ill h olds t h e secr et of t h e m yst er ies a n d is in t h e pr ocess of r esu r r ect in g it self t o it s in it ia l loft y posit ion of cu st odia n of t h e la w a n d sea t of in it ia t ion . Th e m odel of Ma son r y dea ls wit h bot h t h e per son a l t r a in in g a n d t r a n sfor m a t ion of t h e in dividu a l Ma son a s well a s t h e developm en t of t h e gr ou p con sciou sn ess. As we k n ow fr om t h e st u dy of t h e seven r a ys , t h er e a r e t h r ee p r im a r y a n d fou r s econ d a r y r a ys . I n Ma gic, Alch em y, a n d As t r ology, we exp r es s Ra ys 1, 2, a n d 3, r espect ively. As we m ove fr om t h ese t h r ee pr im a r y r a ys t o t h e fu ll expr ession of t h e seven r a ys , we exp a n d ou r s t u d ies fr om Ma gic, Alch em y, a n d Ast r ology t o t h e Seven Liber a l Ar t s. Th ese t ools give u s a m odel in wh ich we ca n develop ou r selves spir it u a lly, m en t a lly a n d ph ysica lly. Th e seven a r t s a r e: Gr a m m a r , Rh et or ic, Logic, Ar it h m et ic, Geom et r y, Mu s ic, a n d Ast r on om y. An y a n d a ll of t h ese Seven Liber a l Ar t s ca n be s een a s a m ea n s of s p ir it u a l developm en t . Th ese seven Liber a l Ar t s a r e a t t h e cor e of t h e t r a in in g of Ma son r y. H er cu les, a s t r a dit ion t ells u s, wa s a gr ea t wa r r ior wit h t r em en dou s st r en gt h . H e wa s a lso ver sed in t h e seven liber a l a r t s. Th e followin g is a sm a ll expla n a t ion of t h ese Ar t s. Gra m m a r F r om a lin gu ist ic poin t of view, gr a m m a r is t h e a bilit y t o for m sen t en ces in a pa r t icu la r wa y wh ich a r e ver y specific in t h eir m ea n in g. Gr a m m a r a lwa ys follows t h e r u les of t h e la n gu a ge bein g spoken . F r om t h e Occu lt poin t of view it is m or e specifica lly r ela t ed t o t h e exa ct it u d e in t h e execu t ion of t h e Wor d Cr ea t ive, wh ich is n ow ca lled t h e LOS T WORD. Th is is m or e specifica lly r ela t ed t o t h e fir st ch a pt er a n d ver se of St . J oh n wh en h e sa ys, "In t h e begin n in g is t h e wor d." Th e t r u e in it ia t e becom es deliber a t e in speech a n d does n ot a llow a n y for eign a ggr ega t es in t o t h e cr ea t ive wor d so t h a t t h e in it ia l a ct of in t en t ion is ca r r ied ou t t h r ou gh exa ct speech a n d exa ct a ct ion . Th is is su m m ed u p in , Righ t Th ou gh t , Righ t Speech , a n d Righ t Act ion . Rh e to ric In t oda y's polit ica l clim a t e we h ea r t h e wor d "r h et or ic" u sed fr ivolou sly t o t h e degr ee t h a t it h a s t a k en on n ega t ive con n ot a t ion s. Bot h Repu blica n s a n d Dem ocr a t s a ccu se ea ch ot h er of u sin g n oisy r h et or ic t h a t dist or t s a n d clou ds t h e r ea l issu es. Th is is of cou r se a lwa ys a possibilit y, a n d h a s per h a ps becom e t h e r u le r a t h er t h a t t h e except ion . Rh et or ic does h a ve differ en t a pplica t ion s. Th e n ega t ive a pplica t ion of t h is secon d of t h e liber a l a r t s is t h a t of con fu sion . If we ca n dist a n ce ou r selves fr om t h is a bu se, we ca n r ea cqu a in t ou r selves wit h t h e su blim e u se of t h is m ost won der fu l scien ce. Rh et or ic h a s t h e ca pa cit y t o expr ess t h e Good, t h e Tr u e a n d t h e Bea u t ifu l. Th e spea kin g or wr it in g of pr ose, t h e u se of figu r es of speech t o illu st r a t e a poin t , or t h e m a k in g of eloqu en t s p eech es t h a t a r e 1 The Seven Liberal Arts of Masonry Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume X • No. 1 • 1996 ca pa ble of in spir in g a n d m ovin g t h e people of a n a t ion a r e posit ive a pplica t ion s of t h e scien ce of r h et or ic. Th is is t h e cr ea t ive u se of speech w h ich is t h e p oe t ic a n d lib e r a l u s e of Gr a m m a r . Th er e is yet a n ot h er a pplica t ion t o r h et or ic wh ich is per h a ps on e of it s m ost vit a l u ses in t er m s of t h e u se of speech in t h e west er n m yst er y t r a dit ion . Th is h a s t o do wit h t h e a r t of deba t e. Ou r u n d er s t a n d in g of d eba t e a s it is p r a ct iced t od a y is t h e a r t of p r ovin g a n in dividu a l t o be in cor r ect , t o em ba r r a ss t h em a n d t o con vin ce t h em of t h e er r or of t h eir wa ys. Th e su blim e a pplica t ion of deba t e is t o expr ess wh a t it is t h a t we kn ow, discover t h e essen ce of t r u t h , a n d expose t h e fa lla cies, gla m ou r , a n d m iscon cept ion s t h a t we, or ou r oppon en t m a y h a ve. Th e in t en ded r esu lt is t h e u n der st a n din g of t h e poin t of view of ou r oppon en t a n d t h e a lign in g of eit h er or bot h of u s t o a gr ea t er t r u t h . As we em ploy t h e power of Rh et or ic t h r ou gh t h e veh icle of deba t e, we m u st be r ea dy t o let go of a t t a ch m en t s t o a pa r t icu la r p oin t of vie w a n d b e w illin g t o e it h e r dem on st r a t e or r eceive t h e im pa ct of a gr ea t er truth. difficu lt y t h a t logic ca n br in g t o bea r is t h e possibilit y of followin g a n in cor r ect in fer en ce. If t h e in fer en ce is in cor r ect , t h en t h e en t ir e t r a in of logic is doom ed t o be der a iled. As a n in fer en ce is p r oven t o be t r u e, t h en t h e followin g of t h a t in fer en ce becom es a solid fou n da t ion t o ba se logica l con clu sion s u pon . To becom e a m a st er of t h e a r t of logic r equ ir es a t r em en dou s power of obser va t ion a n d t h e a pplica t ion of r ea son . Arith m e tic Th e fou r t h of t h e seven liber a l a r t s is in som e wa ys t h e m ost sim ple. Wh a t it t ea ch es t o t h e obser va n t st u den t is t h e oper a t ion of t h e en t ir e cr ea t ive pr ocess of t h e cosm os. N ot t oo sh a bby! In a n a n cien t Ra bbin ica l t ext ca lled t h e Seph er Yet zir a h , t h er e is a n expla n a t ion of t h e cr ea t ion of t h e u n iver se by a bein g n a m ed . It is wr it t en in ver se 1:1, t h a t cr ea t ed t h e u n iver se u sin g n u m ber s, let t er s, a n d wor ds. N u m b e r is t h e fir s t m a t e r ia l u s e d in m a n ifest a t ion . Th in k for a m om en t a bou t wh a t h a s been developed over t h e pa st cen t u r ies con cer n in g m a t h e m a t ics . Ar it h m e t ic in t h e m od e r n u n der st a n din g is t h e lesser or m or e sim ple com p a r t m en t of m a t h em a t ics . I t is in fa ct a r i t h m e t i c t h a t i s t h e fou n d a t i on of m a t h em a t ics. All t h e com plex com pu t a t ion s a n d der iva t ion s t h a t h a ve evolved in m a t h h a ve a r it h m et ic a s t h eir fu n da m en t a l essen ce. To st u dy a r it h m et ic is t o st u dy t h e u n der lyin g qu a lit ies of cr ea t ive for ces a n d h ow t h ey com e t oget h er for t h e s a k e of cr ea t in g com p lex for m s. Ar it h m et ic is a power fu l t ool in t h e developm en t of logic. Th e followin g is a n exa m p le of h ow n u m ber s a r e in t im a t ely in t er r ela t ed. Lo g ic Ou r fir st im pr ession of logic in t oda y's wor ld is per h a ps a n im a ge of Mr . Spock t ellin g Dr . McCoy, "Th a t 's h igh ly illogica l, Doct or ." We ca n see t h e per plexed look on Mr . Spock's fa ce du e t o som e ir r a t ion a l a n d em ot ion a l a ct ion or st a t em en t given by Dr . McCoy. We ca n a lso see Dr . McCoy begin n in g t o seet h e wit h fr u st r a t ion a t t h is Vu lca n syst em of Logic. Logic h a s bot h a n ega t ive a n d posit ive side. Th e m a in flow of logic is t h a t of followin g a t r a in of t h ou gh t t h a t follows in fer en ces t h a t lea d t o a pa r t icu la r con clu sion . Accor din g t o Webst er , "Logic is t h e s cie n ce t h a t in ve s t iga t e s t h e p r in cip le s gover n in g cor r ect or r elia ble in fer en ces." We ca n begin t o see h ow ea ch of t h e seven liber a l a r t s begin t o wea ve t oget h er in t o on e scien ce. Wh en we a dd Logic t o Rh et or ic a n d Gr a m m a r , t h e in dividu a l t ools becom e m or e power fu l in b ot h e xp r e s s ion a n d in ve s t iga t ion . T h e Ge o m e try Webst er defin es geom et r y a s, "Th e br a n ch of m a t h em a t ics t h a t dea ls wit h t h e dedu ct ion s of pr oper t ies, m ea su r em en t a n d r ela t ion sh ips of poin t s, lin es, a n gles, a n d figu r es in spa ce fr om t h eir defin in g con dit ion s by m ea n s of ce r t a in a s s u m e d p r op e r t ie s of s p a ce ." 2 The Seven Liberal Arts of Masonry Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume X • No. 1 • 1996 Geom et r y is m u ch m or e t h a n a br a n ch of m a t h em a t ics. Th is br a n ch of t h e seven liber a l a r t s defin es t h e qu a lit ies a n d fu n ct ion s of t h e va r iou s kin gdom s of n a t u r e. Th e cr yst a lliza t ion of ga len a in cu bic for m a s op p os ed t o t h e pa t t er n s in a pla n t cell t h a t ph ot osyn t h esizes ligh t d e r ive t h e ir d iffe r e n ce s t h r ou gh geom et r y. I t is in t er es t in g t o n ot e t h a t cer t a in r ela t ion sh ips a n d con dit ion s in geom et r y t h a t cr ea t e m ea su r a ble a n d defin a ble for m s a r e t h em selves u n k n owa ble a n d a t best ca n on ly be a ppr oxim a t ed. Th ey a r e ca lled ir r a t ion a l. F r om t h e s e u n k n ow a b le a n d ir r a t ion a l qu a lit ies t h e wor ld of n a m e a n d for m em er ge in t h e va r iou s pla t on ic solids. An exa m ple of su ch ir r a t ion a l qu a lit ies is t h e squ a r e r oot of2, wh ich is by est im a t ion , 1.414213562... Th e pa t t er n does n ot r epea t it self a n d a ppea r s t o be r a n dom yet it is t h r ou gh t h is ir r a t ion a l qu a lit y t h a t t h e squ a r e or r igh t a n gels a r e cr ea t ed. Wh en t h e t wo dia gon a ls of a squ a r e a r e equ a l, t h en t h e a n gles a t t h e cor n er s equ a l 90 degr ees. H ow is it t h a t su ch a n u n k n owa ble qu a lit y ca n cr ea t e a kn owa ble for m . We fin d a s im ila r s it u a t ion wit h t h e n u m ber π, wh ich is u sed in det er m in in g t h e cir cu m fer en ce or a r ea of a cir cle. Th e fr a ct ion of π is 22/7. Ar t icu la t ed a s a decim a l, it is 3.142857143... Th e n u m ber s go on in fin it ely wit h ou t r epea t in g a pa r t icu la r pa t t er n . Yet t h is ir r a t ion a l n u m ber is t h e u n k n owa ble qu a lit y t h a t defin es t h e cir cle t h a t is kn owa ble. On ce a ga in t h e sa m e ph en om en on a r ises wit h t h e n u m ber . It is a ppr oxim a t ed wit h t h e decim a l 1.618. In a r a t io it is expla in ed in t h e golden m ea n 3:5:8. Th is ir r a t ion a l n u m ber is t h e in t elligen ce beh in d t h e for m a t ion of a spir a l n ebu la , t h e pr opor t ion s of t h e n a u t ilu s sh ell, or t h e dist a n ce fr om t h e cen t er of a h u r r ica n e t o it s spir a lin g a r m s on t h e ext er ior . wou ld be a ssocia t ed wit h Gr a m m a r . On ce on e h a s a n u n der st a n din g of t h e ba sic t ools of m u sic, t h e r h et or ica l qu a lit ies ca n com e for t h wh er e gr ea t bea u t y of sou n d ca n be displa yed. Th er e is a st r ea m of logic t h a t a llows t h e b u ild in g of t h e m e s a n d id e a s w it h t h e com posit ion of m u sic. Th e r ela t ion sh ip bet ween va r iou s n ot es in h a r m on y a n d in t er va ls pa r t icipa t e in bot h a r it h m et ic -and geom et r ica l pr opor t ion s. Mu sic is t r u ly t h e syn t h esis of t h e pr eviou s five liber a l a r t s. As tro n o m y T h is is t h e s cie n ce t h a t d e a ls m or e s p ecifica lly wit h t h e ext r a -t er r es t r ia l. Th e scien ce of Ast r on om y br in gs m a n in t o a bigger pict u r e. Webst er defin es t h is scien ce a s, "t h e scien ce t h a t dea ls wit h t h e m a t er ia l u n iver se beyon d t h e ea r t h 's a t m osph er e." Beyon d t h e ea r t h 's a t m osph er e? Th is t a kes h u m a n it y t o a pla ce wh er e h e is con sider in g en vir on m en t s beyon d h is own . In t h e Tr a n s-H im a la ya n t ea ch in gs we a r e t a u gh t t h a t t h ese h ea ven ly bodies a r e cen t er s of con sciou sn ess t h a t ext en d t h eir in flu en ce t o ea ch a n d ever y on e of t h e in dividu a ls u pon t h is pla n et . P la t o spea k s of t h e m u sic of t h e sph er es. Th ese a r e t h e vibr a t or y sou n din gs of t h e gr ea t a st r on om ica l bodies of wh ich t en s of t h ou sa n ds ca n be exper ien ced by t h e h u m a n sen se of sigh t . As we t a k e a closer look a t a st r on om y, we ca n see t h a t it t r u ly is a syn t h esis of a ll t h e ot h er six liber a l a r t s. To t h e t er r est r ia l h u m a n , t h is st a t em en t m a y be look ed a t a s a da r in g fa lseh ood. H e m a y con sider m e n ot ver y sober t o m a ke su ch a st a t em en t . A S y n th e s is o f th e S e v e n Libe ra l Arts We n e e d on ly t o look a t w h a t t h e Ch a ldea n s h eld con cer n in g t h e let t er s of t h eir a lp h a b e t a n d t h e h e a ve n ly b od ie s . T h e Ch a ld ea n s of P er s ia h eld on e of t h e m os t expa n sive cosm ologies, wh ich wa s a ble t o t a ke in a ll of t h e r ela t ion s h ip s of Gr a m m a r , Rh et or ic, Logic, Ar it h m et ic, Geom et r y, Mu sic, a n d Ast r on om y. Th is a lph a bet is a veh icle t h a t Mu s ic To t h e t er r est r ia l m a n m u sic is per h a ps t h e m ost su blim e of t h e fir st six of t h e seven liber a l a r t s . Mu s ic en com p a s s es a ll of t h e pr eviou s five. Th er e a r e t h e ABCs of m u sic or per h a ps bet t er st a t ed t h e DO RE ME s wh ich 3 The Seven Liberal Arts of Masonry Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume X • No. 1 • 1996 expla in s t h e wor kin gs of t h e cosm os. Th e Ch a ldea n a lph a bet , on e of t h e m ost com p lex of s ym bol s ys t em s , offer s u s a n a pplica t ion of t h e seven liber a l a r t s in t h e m ost pr ofou n d of wa ys. Th e en t ir e west er n t r a dit ion ca n be a ccessed t h r ou gh t h is let t er syst em . Th e let t er s t h em selves give u s t h e wr it t en wor d a n d t h e a ct u a l gr a m m a r t h a t is u s ed in m u n d a n e s p e e ch . T h is s p e e ch ca n b e ela bor a t ed in t o a n a r t t h r ou gh t h e scien ce of r h et or ic. As on e st u dies t h e let t er s a n d t h e syst em in wh ich t h ey wor k , on e will fin d a n u n fa ilin g logic t h a t will lea d t h e st u den t in t o a n excit in g jou r n ey in t h e discover y of t h e self. E a ch of t h e Ch a ld ea n let t er s h old s a n u m er ica l va lu e t h a t gives t h e en t ir e ba sis for a r it h m et ic. Differ en t ia l equ a t ion s a n d a lgebr a a r e n ot t h e focu s of t h is syst em bu t sim ple n u m ber r ela t ion sh ips a n d fu n ct ion s. E a ch of t h ese let t er s h a s a pa r t icu la r m u sica l n ot e. Th is gives u s t h e en t ir e P yt h a gor ea n m u sic sca le of 12 n ot es. Beyon d t h is ea ch of t h e let t er s r epr esen t eit h er a sign or a pla n et . Th is br in gs in t h e s even t h of t h e liber a l a r t s , Ast r on om y. If we t a ke a close look a t t h e seven liber a l a r t s, we ca n begin t o see t h a t ea ch of t h em d ea ls wit h r ela t ion s h ip s . Rela t ion s h ip s t o wor ds a s seen in Gr a m m a r , a n d Rh et or ic; t h e con clu sion s dr a wn , du e t o cer t a in r ela t ion sh ips t h r ou gh t h e power of r ea son a n d logic; t h e r ela t ion sh ips of n u m ber s in a r it h m et ic; t h e r ela t ion sh ips of solids in t im e a n d spa ce a s st u died in geom et r y; t h e r ela t ion sh ips of sou n d a n d vibr a t ion in m u sic; a n d t h e r ela t ion sh ips of t h e st a r s a n d pla n et s a s t h ey cou r se t h r ou gh t h e h ea ven s. Th er e a r e seven liber a l a r t s. Th ey ea ch , h owever , r ep r es en t 1/7 of a cir cle. Th is pr esen t s a ver y pecu lia r sit u a t ion r ega r din g a ba la n ce of a dept sh ip in ea ch of t h ese a r t s. Bein g m a st er of ju st on e pa r t of t h e cir cle is in su fficien t t o becom e a m a st er of wisdom of t h e en t ir e cir cle. Usin g t h e scien ce of Geom et r y we fin d t h a t t h e n u m ber 7 is t h e on ly wh ole n u m ber fr om 1 t h r ou gh 10 t h a t will n ot go in t o 360 even ly. N ot on ly will it n ot go in even ly it is a ct u a lly a n ir r a t ion a l n u m ber of 51.42857143... Th is offer s u s a gr ea t m yst er y sin ce t h e n u m ber 7 is u sed fr equ en t ly t o descr ibe cer t a in pr in ciples or fa ct s in ou r t r a dit ion . Th er e a r e t h e 7 ch a k r a s, t h e seven sa cr ed pla n et s k n own t o t h e a n cien t s, t h e 7 r a ys of in it ia t ion , a n d t h e 7 m et a ls of a lch em y. Th e list does n ot en d h er e. Th e a ct u a l ba la n cin g of t h e n u m ber 7 is a ccom plish ed t h r ou gh in t u it ion a n d t h e st a t e of Gr a ce. Th er e is n o logica l wa y on e ca n descr ibe t h e pr ocess of in scr ibin g t h e 7 wit h in a cir cle yet t h e for m it self, t h e h ept a gon ~ exist s. As we t ie a ll of t h is t oget h er , we see a t r a dit ion in wh ich cer t a in u n iver sa l t r u t h s m a y be com m u n ica t ed t o t h e st u den t of t h a t t r a dit ion . A Ca ll to Ac tio n Sin ce t h e a n n ou n cem en t by t h e H ier a r ch y of t h e r ea ppea r a n ce of t h e Ch r ist , t h e n eed for disciples t o a n swer t h e ca ll t o ser vice h a s been sou n ded. If we fa n cy ou r selves a s disciples, a n d m ost of t h e r ea der s of t h ese pa ges eit h er a r e or a r e ver y close, t h en it is t im e t o t a k e u p t h e wor k of ser vice wh ich we a ll a ppla u d bu t t en d t o 1ea ve for t h e ot h er gu y. Th e fu ll im plica t ion of ou r spir it u a l t r a dit ion is n ot r est in g in gr ea t libr a r ies n or in t h e ca ves in In dia . It r esides wit h in ou r bodies, m in ds, a n d sou ls, a n d t h ey a r e bein g ca lled t o a ct ion . It is in deed joyfu l t o m u se a bou t gr ea t m a st er s a n d gr ou p wor k or spea k blissfu lly of deva s a n d a n gelic bein gs pr esen t in ou r m idst . Th e t im e for m u sin g a n d t a lkin g is over . Th e t im e for a ct ion is a t h a n d. We m u st com e t oget h er in t h ou gh t , wor d, a n d deed a n d n ot in pla t it u de a lon e. Th e win dow of oppor t u n it y is open t o u s. Un less we m ove in t o a ct ion we will be left wit h a m issed oppor t u n it y a n d m u st wa it for yet a n ot h er cycle t o t a ke on t h e gr ou p wor k t h a t is so gr ea t ly n eeded. Th is ser vice, t h is gr ou p is t h e t r u e wor k a n d es s en ce of ou r wes t er n spir it u a l t r a dit ion , in wh ich Ma son r y pla ys a n im por t a n t pa r t . Copyr igh t 1996 Kevin Town ley–All r igh t s 4 The Seven Liberal Arts of Masonry Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume X • No. 1 • 1996 r eser ved. Kevin T ow n ley h as been a lifelon g stu d en t of W estern H erm eticism . E arly on in h is stu d ies, h e becam e d raw n to th e w ritin gs of Dr. Pau l Foster Case an d h as been a m em ber of th e B . O. T . A . for 11 years. Kevin is cu rren tly th e V ice P r es i d en t of L P N - U S A , a n es ot er i c orga n iz a t ion d ed ica t ed t o t h e st u d y a n d p r a ct i ce of Q a b a l a h a n d L a b o r a t o r y Al ch em y. H is stu d ies h ave led h im arou n d th e w or l d s eek i n g or i gi n a l R os i cr u ci a n a n d alch em ical texts, as w ell as th ose in d ivid u als w h o practice th is R oyal Art. K ev i n ' s b ook , T h e C u b e o f S p a c e , C on t a i n er of C r ea t i on (A rch ive Press, B ox 11218, B ou ld er, CO 80301;paperback ed ition available) gives d etailed in form ation abou t th e expression of th e seven rays th rou gh th e m od el of t h e cu be. K ev in 's h a s a n ew book t it led Med i t a t i on s on T h e Cu b e of S p a ce, 5 The Seven Liberal Arts of Masonry Journal of Esoteric Psychology • Volume X • No. 1 • 1996