The Circle, part two
Let us return to the Circle, also known as the Ritual Figure in the Triangular manuscript:
As mentioned earlier, we have an arrangement for a figure meant to be drawn on the ground during the ritual. But is there more to it?
Correspondence
I want to acknowledge the people who have been not only reading these musing but also providing their perspectives and insights by sending me emails. Thank you.
I read all of your correspondence with interest, even though I do not have a chance to respond to everyone. I live very far away from people. My access to the internet and other forms of telecommunication requires making a multi day trek on foot and so happens infrequently – sometimes once every few months.
Much more remains to be said on the subjects of longevity, ancient mysteries, and magic. Keep in touch.
On Longevity
The big promise of magic, especially that attributed to the Count of St. Germain, is longevity or even immortality. While the spirits insist that true immortality is out of reach to humans “by design,” the possibility of life extension by hundreds or even thousands of years exists.
The Emblem of a Winged Dragon
Following the enigmatic introduction, there is an illustration of a dragon, a most unusual and curious example of this creature. It has a small snarling face on its tail, a lack of hind legs, and its posture suggests a Lion rampant rather than the typical fire-breathing wyrm.
Its tongue has a triangle tip, it has distinct five claws of a Japanese vs. Chinese dragon, and amidst its colored plumage can be seen a remarkably well-painted human eye.
The Tea of Immortality
Longevity is the key secret of the Count of St. Germain. Centuries of time have dimmed the other, lesser known legends of his immense knowledge, wealth, and mysterious origin. So what did the Count recommend to all those who sought this precious gift of long life? It was the following recipe, presented clearly for the first time in nearly 300 hundred years.
The Circle
The circle is an essential component of every magical ritual. It is a special delineated space for magician to operate, offering both safety and visibility. By examining the words and figures that make up the circle we can gain an understanding of both the ceremony and its creator/operator. Here is the circle as given in the Triangular Book.
We note a few things of interest.
Latin Preface
The first words of the Triangular Book, and what becomes its identification in libraries and catalogues, are in Latin:
.::. Ex Dono Sapientissimi Comitis St. Germain Qui Orbem Terrarum Per Cucurrit
“Presented as a gift by the wisest Count of St. Germain, a man who has traveled the world.”
Secondary Cipher
The “big reveal” that appears in my publication of Triangular Book of St. Germain (Ouroboros Press, 2014) relates to the sacred names of the spirits. The author of the manuscript thought it was insufficient to apply the substitution cipher and reversed, fragmented, and generally obfuscated the names. As a result, all previous efforts at translation and decoding proved inadequate.
Ciphers & Keys
The most cursory glance inside the Triangular manuscript will show that it is composed in cipher. As we discussed in previous chapter, there are several manuscripts out there, each slightly different from the other. Perhaps not too surprisingly, the same goes for the ciphers and their keys.
For the first time ever, we present here three cipher keys from different sources for your study and contemplation.
The many manuscripts
Any good mystery has a multitude of twists, surprises, and unexpected turns. Readers of Umberto Eco, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, Charles Maturin, and Dan Brown would not expect that a rare magical manuscript would yield its mysteries at once. Nor would it be possible to pin it down to just one place, time, and owner.
The Triangular Book is no exception. A cursory research shows that there exist two source manuscripts, once owned collectively by Manly P. Hall, and referred to as Hogart MS 209 and 210. The two differ sufficiently on several key points.
