Metatron the Mathematician

Our great angel Metatron is God's mathematician. He studied the mathematical universe for untold millennia to find the most beautiful patterns that would then be used later in the creation of the physical universe. So in that sense we are living inside of Metatron's mathematics textbook. When we read the books of great authors, we think the same thoughts as those authors, our mind resonates with theirs, and we become like unto them. In order to be able to read Metatron's math book, you must first be able to love what he has written.

-- S.A.O.
 

Hacking into the Global Brain

If the global brain is a computer, then it can be hacked. It contains files on its hard drive for every person who ever lived, every animal and plant species, and all rocks and minerals. And you can access these files and download them into your own brain. There are surprisingly very little security measures in place. In truth there are no security measures, it is an open system. But the fact

that most people cannot access this information is due to their own limiting beliefs about who and what they are. The pass-phrase to get level-one access is "It is what it is." Level-one access grants you permission to open the files, but you cannot yet download them. Permission to download files is level-two access, and the pass-phrase for level-two access is "I am what it is". But you cannot permanently store the files on your own hard drive with level-two access-- that only comes with level-three access. The pass-phrase for level-three access is "I am what I am". But there is even beyond this a level-four security clearance where we can modify these files, then upload them back into the global brain. The pass-phrase for level-four access is "It is what I am".

It is what it is

"It is what it is."

When you set to work at understanding the inner meaning of this statement, and slowly, gradually comprehend its depth and profundity, to know it as a firsthand experience, and not a bunch of words, you will have the world in the palm of your hand, both as a whole and with all its parts. Repeating it over and over, you will find there are particular cadences and rhythmic ways

of saying it that will generate explosions of information in your mind. It is the recipe for the universal solvent that dissolves the appearances of all things. It yields the universal key that unlocks the doorway beyond all illusion. If you are ever unsure of anything, it will guide you to truth. If you are confused and don't know what this statement means, read it again and it will explain itself to you.

 

But one must ask: where does this path of the utmost simple take us? To a place where the statement "It is what it is" is superseded by the statement "I am what I am".

 

Syrianus on Theorems, Proofs, and Imagination in Geometry

I just finished writing a brief article commenting on a quotation from Syrianus' commentary on books 13-14 of Aristotle's Metaphysics.  In this passage, Syrianus gives a superb view of the Platonic doctrine of mathematical objects as risiding in the soul.  We can grasp the contents of the soul through studying geometry in the Platonic fashion, leading to the attainment of mathesis.  I have posted this on both the Via Mathesis and Academy of Neoplatonism blogs since it is relevant to both.  Please read the full article here:

Syrianus on Theorems, Proofs, and Imagination in Geometry

Video - Geometry of Truth 01 - Full Spectrum of Possibilities

The Geometry of Truth will show how to understand the deeper meaning of Truth through geometry.  We will begin by explaining the concept of the full spectrum of possibilities, discuss spectral analysis and synthesis  We will introduce the number systems that will be relevant for the next parts of this series and see how the Cube can be viewed as a symbol of Truth.

He Who Takes Away the Sins of the World

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." -- John 2.6

What does it mean to say that he "takes away the sins of the world?" (John 1.29)

The Christ's deed was to redeem the planetary karma of the Earth. He took the collective karma of all humanity upon himself. This was His mission and He succeeded.

As I said before, we should claim our share in the responsibility for all social problems. We don't need to, but if we want to find the Christ it is necessary, if we want to really be in a state of collective consciousness, because that's what the Christ represents. The Christ consciousness is where you are the collective of all humanity. ALL humanity! That's why you "love your neighbor as yourself" because your neighbor IS yourself in that collective state.

It's okay if we're not quite ready to claim more than our share of responsibility. But the Christ claimed ALL of it to himself. When he "takes away the sins of the world" he doesn't erase the karma, but bears the total responsibility. When we can claim at least our share of responsibility, we will "walk in the same way in which he walked". And this makes you not less powerful, but more powerful, since you will attain a measure of likeness to God.

If you try to be always happy and never said, always peaceful and never in conflict, you weaken your power and ability to transform darkness into light. This is an exhortation to find strength and courage through these difficult times.

-- S.A.O.

The Kingdom of Heaven

"To enter the kingdom of heaven, you must become as a child."

The kingdom of heaven is a playground. You must be 'as' a child to enter into it. It does not say you must 'be' a child. It is not a return to a lost innocence. "Even the gods love to play" as even the great philosopher Plato has written. We must grow up beyond adulthood to play the games the gods play. The use of the child simile is meant only to remind us of the innate wisdom we have always had, but have forgotten how to use. But how do we capture the wisdom of the child and harness the knowledge of the 'grown up'?

It is up to the student to ask the questions. The person who 'plays' the role of a teacher cannot answer all questions. You have all the resources within yourself. A teacher cannot give you something you don't already have. All he can do is try to help you remember something you already know.

A teacher 'plays' his role best when he 'plays' on the meaning of words. The Greek god Hermes is the god of writing. The purpose of writing is to communicate thought. A 'good' teacher is one who can skillfully communicate his thoughts into words. But Hermes was also a trickster, a joker, and a game master. And he guards the kingdom of the heavens with many subtle tests. You must be able to laugh, joke and play to participate in the games of the gods.

-- Stephen Anthony Orzel
 

Taking Your Power Back - Claim Your Share of Responsibility

I have been perceiving many things on a planetary level.

What I see is that there are lots of people laying the blame on individuals, or else groups of very few individuals. When all you see is single individuals, that's the only way to explain it. Our ability to navigate these troubling times will depend on being able to see not single persons, but collective ideas, collective beliefs, and collective behaviors.

We have heard it many times that "the people have the power". That is true, but what I see is a collective behavior of the majority of humans giving their power over to others, giving it away for free, although they don't really realize it. If you see a problem in the world, it's so easy to point fingers and blame a person with a name and a face. But can you see how that person became powerful? Can you see the consolidation of power that massive populations of individuals had, but gave away to the few? Every time you blame a small number of people for a planetary problem, you give away your power to those who you blame. And this is collective behavior of 'blaming the few' weakens those who want a better future.

The secret of power is reversal. You are actually much more powerful by claiming your share of the responsibility for all social problems. I embrace my share of responsibility for disease, crime, hunger, toxicity, pollution, violence, abuse, cheating, theft, and hatred. I cannot change others so I work on improving my own character. I am not a perfect being but I strive to be better every day.

This is how you take your power back. This is how you stop freely giving your power over to others. Claim your share of the responsibility, do not blame other individuals. This does not say you are claiming total responsibility. Only your share in the collective. Do not blame others, blame the collective, and the collective includes yourself. You are not a part of the collective, you are the collective. You are also an individual. Embracing this paradox is necessary to navigate these troubled times.

I've said many times that it's necessary to take action. This does not mean you have to solve all the world's problems and carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It means that you take action to contribute to making the world a better place. Start with yourself, once you have fulfillment, let the goodness overflow. Taking action does not mean complaining about how it's someone else's fault.

Everyone has a piece of the puzzle, no one has the whole solution. What needs to happen is that we all find the 'shape' of our own puzzle piece and find how that fits into the whole, how it locks in to its own perfect place. It also means that no one is excluded. Even those people you now blame, even they have a place in the puzzle. Be sure not to exclude them since you would then exclude yourself as well. Do not say of others, "you do not fit, get out of my puzzle" for then ruins the picture and we are then all incomplete.

Remember also, a puzzle is a game! It's supposed to be fun! Yes, it is a challenge, but it is also a work of great beauty.

This is the task we must accomplish at this time.

-- Stephen Anthony Orzel

A Most Wise Game Master

Tired of playing the same old game, running through the same repetitive loops day after day?  Is there anything wrong with changing the rules of the game as you go along?  You were the one who set these rules, you are the master of the game.  So why not change them if they aren't serving you anymore?

How do you change the rules of the game?  Take an action that's different from the one you normally take.  It's that simple!  Redefine your life by acting in conformity with your highest excitement. 

You must do more than just think positive thoughts.  You must take action on what you have learned.  Apply your understanding.  This is the 'wisdom of the fool' who jumps in head-first, because he realizes that's the only way to test if some idea is valid or not.

There is a serious illness that I like to call 'information-overload-induced-paralysis'.  It happens when your head is filled with thoughts that you have never tested by taking action on any of them.  The only way to overcome this paralysis is to get your body in motion.  Take an action that's different from the one you normally take.  And watch the whole universe change. 

You are the master of your creation.  You don't need to learn how to get power-- you can't get what you already have.  What you need to do is apply your power through doing, expressing, creating.  What you need to learn is not how to do what you already know how to do, but to learn how to use this power wisely.

-- Stephen Anthony Orzel

Activation of Divine Love - Thou Art Wonderful for All Eternity My Lord

In this video I will guide you through an activation of divine love. We begin by considering Jesus' statement in Matthew 22 that the greatest commandment in the law is that "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and all your mind", and the second greatest is "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The activation is based on the Hebrew sacred mantra "Atah Gibor LeOlam Adoni" which means "Thou art wonderful for all eternity my Lord." We will intone the acronym form AGLA to activate the heart chakra.

Prayer for the Waters of Life - Mayim Chayyim

Please join us in our prayer to let the waters of life rain down upon the earth and allow our crops to quench their thirst.

Please share this video with those who may be interested in joining us in prayer.  Thank you.

On Laughter and Creative Power

Remember that laughter is the most powerful agent of dissolution and always look for the positive. Even those who harm us were acting in ways they thought were good, or were coming from their own place of suffering. We must look past the finite space-time conditions and see it as an opportunity to strengthen the soul.  And we must see the transgressors as being on their own path of perfection. Trust that they will eventually learn from their mistakes and find how to turn their harmful actions into loving actions. 

You must be able to laugh at your fears and enemies.  What you think are your fears and enemies are actually your own creations due to misinterpreting the goodness hidden beneath surface appearances.  But nonetheless, you have created them.  You are a creator, a divine creator being.  You just have to learn to use your creative power in beneficial ways.  You must laugh at your own detrimental thought-entities, for then their energies will have nothing to latch on to.  You will stop feeding them by laughing at them.  Starve them with laughter.  Look for goodness in all situations, you will find it.  Look carefully and with look your heart.  Then you will be using your creative power wisely.

-- Stephen Anthony Orzel

Global Consciousness Activators Network

We have started a new social network of individuals who want to work together to activate global consciousness into a higher vibrational frequency.  It is called the Global Consciousness Activators Network.  Right now we are using Facebook Groups as our platform to build upon.  This could grow into other areas in the future, but for now this will be a sufficient place to begin.  Here is the description and mission of this social network:

The Global Consciousness Activators Network is a loosely organized group of individuals dedicated to activating global consciousness into a higher vibrational frequency. The goal is to accelerate the shift into a dynamic global cooperating humanity that realizes that we are both collectively one and individually unique. The intention of forming this group is to gather together those individuals who are already working in their own way to seed global consciousness by spreading provoking thoughts, inspiring words and images, and healing energies and vibrations.

We come together to amplify our efforts and set an example for others who feel the call to begin activating their own higher consciousness so they may in turn activate others in new and creative ways.

Those who participate will generally use tools such as Facebook pages and groups, Youtube channels and webinars, blogs, podcasts and radio shows, Amazon reviews, or other social networking tools. There are no rules, except that whatever we say, express, or create, must come from a place of unconditional love for all beings. Each individual will be naturally draw to create activations for what interests them, and would originate from the higher systems they have activated within themselves. The common bond between the members is a dedication to activate as many people who are ready to move into a new reality of peace and love and unity.

This group will be used as a forum to share experiences and give feedback for our creative efforts. This will help in fine-tuning our activations for what we are best at, to leave certain tasks to others who may be more experienced or have achieved a higher level of activation themselves, or for those who are working towards similar activation goals to team up and find each other.

If you are interested in contributing to these efforts or would like to learn from others as an example, please join our Facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/262020833911781/

In the group I have posted what I forsee as frequently asked questions, and went ahead and answered them.  Since that information may be old on the page, I will repost here for those reading this blog who may want answers to these questions.

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What does it mean to create an 'activation'?

It means expressing your unique truth for how you feel connected to the oneness of life. By creating a way for inspired messages to be delivered to global consciousness through images and sounds, actions and movements, you will activate that awareness of unity in others. The thing that must be cautioned is trying to blame others for some problem or issue. Expressing anger and frustration about global problems is not allowed, since this leads to separation and fights. That is why the only rule is that whatever you say, express, or create must come from a place of unconditional love for all beings. Only in this way do we work towards the goals of activating global consciousness into a higher vibrational frequency.


What are some examples of creating activations?

It could be as simple as quoting inspiring authors and posting those on your profile or blog. It could be as elaborate as creating documentary films. The avenues I have been exploring are writing blog posts and recording educational videos for Youtube. As long as it has been structured to activate thoughts, feelings, and actions of raising consciousness in a loving way, it will be considered an activation. I will try to use my own examples to set the tone. Although my activations are focused into specific themes and awarenesses, it should not be thought of as covering even a small proportion of what I imagine as possible.


What gets 'activated' in an activation?

Specifically, what gets activated are parts of the human brain. This is the primary focus, to register higher frequencies into certain brain regions to open them up, generating expansiveness and not contraction. What we have been given through media and cultural programming has shut down these brain regions, causing contraction and an impossibility to utilize full potential. The goals of an activator are to realize where they have personally transcended cultural programming by activating their own higher consciousness, and then in turn find ways of opening up others, too.

Let me explain the regions of the brain that are activated by different sensory stimulation:

Thoughts, Ideas, Statements - Frontal Lobe
Sounds, Images, Music - Parietal, Occipital, and Temporal Lobes
Emotions, Feelings - Limbic System
Actions, Motions, Movements - Cerebellum
Health, Nutrition, Stories - Hypothalamus
Blessings, Divine Unity, Feeling of Self as Other - Pineal Gland


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Here is an example of a very simple activation.

See how easy it is? I had been posting quotations from Proclus on my wall, in groups, and in my blogs, but realized that I was only activating people's frontal lobe with the thoughts and ideas. It is always better to activate multiple brain regions. By including the image of a whirling galaxy, it opens up the occipital lobe in synchronicity with the frontal lobe.

Other areas are likely to be activated as a result, for example, the image could have an emotional effect, thereby activating the limbic system as well. Or it could trigger storyline about human origins and destiny, linking up with the hypothalamus. But those are not the focus of the activation, but would be dependent on a person's individual reactions. The two areas that are definitely activated are the frontal lobe and occipital lobe, so we would say that this is an example of an activation for those, but it's not specifically intended to activate the limbic system or the hypothalamus or other areas.

Article - The Lost Works of Proclus

I have just written a lengthy article for my blog Academy of Neoplatonism on the topic of the lost works of Proclus.  It is wholly speculative but supremely interesting considering that the problem of what happened to Proclus' 13 lost works, at the least count, has not been dealt with by scholars .  My conjecture is that these works were actually lost in an accidental fire of Proclus' home.  There is some weight to this thesis, considering the unusual occurrence of the Tria Opuscula, Proclus' three minor works that deal with the problems of providence, fate and evil.  You will find out much more by reading the full article here:

The Lost Works of Proclus

On Giving and Receiving

You have never paid for anything. Everything you have received has been a gift. Everything is free. You can have whatever you want and will always get it.

But there is always a limit to what you can get right now. You cannot have it all at once.

In that sense, nothing is free. There are no gifts, everything has its price. You have to work for it if you want it. You can only get what you are fit to receive. But still there is no real cost to anything. Even the power to do work is a bestowal from above.

Do not be thankful to a higher source for what you have. It is rather that the one who gives is the one who receives. It gives thanks to itself for what it bestows upon itself. It gives itself exactly what it needs exactly when it needs it. And you exist because of that need.

Do not be thankful. Be greedy by giving yourself to yourself. And thank yourself when you pay yourself, for the cost is great, but the gift is free.

-- Stephen Anthony Orzel

Video - Geometric Theurgy 01 - Creation by Numbers

This video will begin the series on Geometric Theurgy by looking at a story of creation by numbers.  We will develop the symbolic meanings of numbers and explain why these meanings go with the numbers.  This is a profound exegesis on the Pythagorean tetraktys.  Learn how you are part of God's unfoldment of self-knowledge.  Once this is understood, you will be well prepared to begin practicing the highest form of theurgy-- creating your own universe.

Stewart Shapiro on Ontological Realism in Mathematics

I've decided to start posting interesting quotations from the books I read here on this blog, and even if the content may be more relevant to my other blogs, I will keep the brief quotations here and keep the articles and other content in the topic blogs.

I am reading Stewart Shapiro's book Thinking About Mathematics (2000 Oxford University Press) and in the second chapter he discusses the ontological theories of mathematical objects.  That is, are mathematical objects such as numbers, points, lines, and sets real in the sense that they exist independently of any mathematicians?  This is certainly my worldview, the alternative being that mathematical objects are not really real but are made up by mathematicians-- that if there were no mathematicians, there would be no mathematical objects.  The first view is called realism, while the second is called idealism.  This is not the space to discourse about the merits of either view, but I think it really depends on your worldview and your belief structure.  The realist worldview is what comes out of Plato's teachings, and that is what excited me the most.

Plato the realist, point up to the World of mathematical Forms.
Aristotle the idealist, pointing outward to the phyiscal world of Matter.

Here is what Shapiro says on p. 27:

The scientific literature contains no reference to the location of numbers or to their causal efficacy in natural phenomenon or to how one could go about creating or destroying a number.  There is no mention of experiments to detect the presence of numbers or determine their mathematical properties.  Such talk would be patently absurd.  Realism in ontology is sometimes called 'Platonism', because Plato's Forms are acausal, eternal, indestructible, and not part of space-time.

This of course opens the door to many questions, such as how do science and mathematics differ, and what can be said about how theoretical physics differs from experimental physics?  Is theoretical physics just a branch of mathematics?  If so, how does its application lead to experimental results?  What is the relation between the Platonic world of Forms and the physical world of matter?

Books mentioned in this post:

Video - Ancient Philosophy of Mathematics 07 - The One, Limit, and Unlimited in Geometry

I have added another video to the video series Ancient Philosophy of Mathematics.  This is part seven, titled The One, Limit and Unlimited in Geometry.  We will explore the metaphysics of geometry through The One, Limit and Unlimited.  We will show how geometric constructions correspond to these first principles, with the point symbolizing The One, the circle symbolizing the Limit, and the line symbolizing the Unlimited. We give a basic description of the practice of geometric theurgy, a form of meditation that requires using body movement, thereby grounding the highest metaphysical principles down into the lowest level.  We read from Plato's Philebus and Proclus' Elements of Theology and Commentary on Euclid's Elements.  This video is the foundation for the next series of videos on geometric theurgy.

Book Review - Proclus: An Introduction by Radek Chlup

Cambridge University Press recently released a new volume titled "Proclus: An Introduction" by Radek Chlup.  The book is an extremely valuable addition to the literature on Proclus and is a brilliant introduction to Proclus' philosophy.  I have written an extensive review of this text over on the Academy of Neoplatonism blog.  Please read the review with the following link.  If you want to purchase please use the link to Amazon below.

Book Review - Proclus: An Introduction by Radek Chlup

Video Series - Ancient Philosophy of Mathematics

I have started a series of videos on the Ancient Philosophy of Mathematics on my YouTube channel.  The series currently has 6 videos and I will be adding more in the future.  In this first set of videos, we discuss the Pythagorean and Platonic perspectives on mathematical philosophy.  The focus will be on metaphysics and ontology, symbolism and contemplation, and anagogue, or spiritual ascent.  We will be drawing material from the Introduction to Arithmetic by Nicomachus of Gerasa as well as Proclus' Commentary on Euclid's Elements.

I have posted the descriptions and links to the first 6 videos in the series on the Via Mathesis blog.  Here is a link to the post:

Video Series - Ancient Philosophy of Mathematics

Video - Proclus - Hymn to The One

Here was a video I shot a few weeks ago where I recited Proclus' Hymn to The One.  I also gave a brief introduction to Proclus, so this is a great video to get started with.

Nonduality in the Thought of Proclus and its Parallels in the Kabbalah of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

First I will post some things that should have been here a while ago.  I wrote an article on Academy of Neoplatonism discussing the parallels between the thought of Proclus and Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.  I excerpted two passages from each of their writings and showed the striking similarity in their lines of thought, so much so that I began to wonder about some occult connection between them.  I proposed that in fact these two thinkers are in fact one and the same soul, that Proclus later reincarnated as Rabbi Cordovero.  Read about it here:

Nonduality in the Thought of Proclus and its Parallels in the Kabbalah of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

Lots of new content in the works

It's been quite a while since I've done any blogging, and now I have a lot of things I want to post here on this blog, and hopefully keep updating the content on a regular basis.  I have produced some new videos on YouTube that I will post here next.  The video setup is finally where I want it to be, with the whiteboard and the lighting and all that stuff.  Plus have some ideas for articles I would like to write for my topic blogs.  Stay tuned for a lot of new content.

Book Review - Pardes Rimonim (The Orchard of Pomegranates) by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero

I just finished reading volume 1 of what will be a 12-volume set and have posted a book review on Amazon.com.  The book is Pardes Rimonim by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero.  The book was originally written in Hebrew and in English the title means Orchard of Pomegranates.

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, or Ramak for short, lived from 1522-1570 in Safed, Israel.  He was one of the most important Kabbalistic thinkers in history, and played a key role in the expansion of Kabbalistic study which turned Safed into the home of Kabbalah.  Rabbi Cordovero was a prolific writer, and Pardes Rimonim is only one of but few of his works that have been translated into English.  The text is composed in 32-parts and lays a solid foundation of understanding the world of the sefirot, giving a systematic underpinning to Zoharic theosophy for the first time.

Pardes Rimonim has been translated into English by Providence University, but so far only 4 of the 12 volumes have been released.  The text is fairly accessible but does require some prior understandings of basic Kabbalistic concepts and an orientation to the contents of Sepher Yetzirah and Sepher Ha-Zohar, since much of the work provides commentary and exegesis on relevant portions of these sacred texts.  The clarity of thought is unparalleled for a work of its time and is of tremendous value to students of Kabbalah today.  I would recommend that every serious student buy all the volumes that are currently available.  Not only for the value of the incredible learning it affords, but also because our purchase of the books helps sponsor the translation project and allows us to see the remaining volumes to be delivered.  Here is the review from Amazon.com:

Let's cut to the chase and address the question you must be asking if you clicked on this item:

IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS STUDENT OF KABBALAH, BUY THIS BOOK NOW AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER!

Keep in mind that the publisher is only asking for a higher price for these texts in order to support the translation process by Providence University. Your purchase helps sponsor this translation effort, making it possible for the complete 12-volume set to be eventually produced. We are extremely fortunate to have Rabbi Moshe Cordovero's (RaMaK) masterpiece Pardes Rimonim being made available to English readers.

Rabbi Cordovero was the foremost Kabbalist of his day, thriving at the height of 16th century Safedian Kabbalistic fervor. It is in some ways unfortunate that RaMaK was almost immediately eclipsed by Rabbi Isaac Luria, leading to a major shift in the orientation of Kabbalistic thought right up to the present day. Cordovero focuses on the emanationist perspective, while Luria addressed the Tikkun HaOlam (restoration of the world.) For the most part Rabbi Cordovero's work has been sadly neglected and it is a blessing that he's making a comeback. It was as if the Kabbalistic world forgot that a great Rabbi came right before Luria and exposed the meaning of Kabbalistic metaphysics and theosophy in clear language. The intention of the work was to give clear and lucid expression to the writings that had up to his time been written in esoteric symbolic language, guarded from being understood by all except those who had access to oral instruction.

RaMaK's writing is systematic and philosophical, and his thinking gives us a clear view of the Sephirotic world and its dynamics. Those wanting to really understand how to think about the Sephirot will find all the details in Pardes Rimonim. The format of the text is systematic and encyclopedic. The work is divided into 32 treatises, each with multiple chapters. The chapters usually begin by presenting passages from earlier esoteric texts such as Sepher Yetzirah, the Zohar, the Bahir, and numerious other medieval writings. RaMaK then proceeds to explain the meaning of the passage in clear terms, and the reader's understanding will always be enlightened by the process. This is not to say that it is an easy work, which is a testament to the depth of thinking found here.

The work is organized by structural and philosophical themes. For example, the first treatise is called "Ten and not Nine", and provides detailed exegesis on this keycode from Sepher Yetzirah. Rabbi Cordovero is addressing the structure of the Sephirot: why are they exactly ten and not more or less? He examines the writings of earlier commentators and shows flaws in their thinking. The second treatise deals with a primarily theological/philosophical issue of: what is the reason for the emanation? Why did the emanation happen, what was the purpose for creating the world, and why does man turn toward his source?

The third treatise returns to the primarily structural questions that are taken up in most of the treatises: is the Infinite the same as Crown? He again examines the work of earlier commentators and highlights the subtle flaws in structural understandings. Some thought that Keter is co-substantial with Ain Soph, since some Kabbalistic texts alternatively call Keter "Ain" or "Nothingness" while Chokmah is sometimes called "Rashit" or "Beginning". So does Keter or Chokmah begin the count? This is a difficult question due to the subtlety of the highest levels, but Cordovero gives a thorough analysis and shows how to proceed. The fourth treatise is called "Substance and Vessels". RaMaK demonstrates the errors of earlier commentators who thought the Sephiroth were either substance or vessels, since actually it is both! And RaMaK when explains this difficulty, we really begin to see his genius shine.

It is very tantalizing to read this text, since the work overall is highly interwoven within itself. This is really great because Kabbalistic thought follows this same pattern of self-interconnectedness. For example, in nearly every chapter there is some idea that can only be sufficiently explained by refering to other Sephirotic concepts, and RaMaK enjoys luring the reader deeper into the work by saying such things as: this has not been sufficiently explained, but you will learn more about it in a later treatise. Likewise there are many backward references, and although one's understanding is illuminated greatly on an initial reading, the fullest appreciation would come through re-reading. Thus the book serves both those who desire a good understanding of the Sephirotic world in order to fully appreciate other Kabbalistic authors, but is invaluable to those who feel the dedication to pursue these matters to the fullest. It works good for those who are going to read the book once and move on, but it is pure gold for those who will read it over and over again. There is great potential here for both modest study and intense contemplation.

For those interested in further pursuing Rabbi Moshe Cordovero's work in English, there has been a doctoral dissertation recently written by Dr. Zohar Raviv focusing on RaMaK's life and work. It is called "Fathoming the heights, ascending the depths: Decoding the dogma within the enigma. The life, works and speculative piety of Rabbi Moses Cordoeiro". You can find a PDF version of it, and it is also available here in paperback: Decoding the Dogma Within the Enigma: The Life, Works, Mystical Piety and SystematicThought of Rabbi Moses Cordoeiro (aka Cordovero;Safed, Israel, 1522-1570)

Some other things about this edition as a whole: the complete English translation is projected to appear in 12 volumes, 4 of which are currently available. Each volume contains the original Hebrew at the end, and all of Cordovero's diagrams are put in both sections of the text. Let me say again that your purchase helps sponsor this translation project. Know that by buying this book you will be helping to bring this illumination into the world! 

Books mentioned in this article:

New Video Lectures on Platonic Philosophy by Pierre Grimes

There is a new series of video lectures by Dr. Pierre Grimes on Platonic Philosophy.  I wrote up a post about this at the Academy of Neoplatonism blog.  Please see this post for background on Pierre Grimes and his video lectures.

The videos are available for full download over at academyofplatonicstudies.com.  It looks like they are doing a weekly session and then posting the material as they go along.  Topics have covered much of the best from Plato, Plotinus, and Proclus, and it will be exciting to check back regularly and follow along on a weekly basis.

Here's a direct link to the videos: http://academyofplatonicstudies.com/video.

Iamblichus on Theurgy - Embracing Material Existence

I have been studying Neoplatonism quite heavily lately, so I have decided to start another blog to put articles related to this subject called Academy of Neoplatonism.  The first article is now written, called Iamblichus on Theurgy - Embracing Material Existence.  This was inspired by some thoughts I have had lately on the need to master the body and physicality for true spiritual fulfillment.  Please see the article for more.

Coming soon for this new blog, I would like to write up a nice study guide to Proclus' Commentary on the Timaeus of Plato, since there is so much new material published lately on this work, and it is a masterpiece of Platonic thought and priceless source of Pythagorean philosophy of mathematics.

On the Character and Virtue of Perfect Numbers

I have written an article On the Character and Virtue of Perfect Numbers over on Via Mathesis.  The article describes the classification of numbers into deficient, super-abundant, and perfect.  It is the class of perfect numbers which holds the balance between the other two, and thus the perfect numbers have a virtuous characters we should imitate, while the deficient and the super-abundant resemble vices that we should avoid.  This is a good way to understand the distinction and relationship between quantitative and qualitative perspectives on numerical phenomena.

YouTube Intervew on Metaphysical Source - Sacred Geometry and the Pythagorean Tradition

We are starting to get the deepest mystery school teachings of Sacred Geometry into YouTube interviews.  This video is the first initiation into what will be a series of video lessons on how to awaken spiritual awareness through Sacred Geometry and Sacred Mathematics.  Please subscribe and share to help spread these teachings and raise the vibration of the planet!

YouTube Video Lesson - What is Via Mathesis?

I posted a video on to address the question of "what is Via Mathesis?"  This was meant to define the paradigm of the video lessons and lay a foundation for what will come later.

We discuss the meaning of 'Via Mathesis' as a spiritual path of initiation into higher consciousness and leads to knowledge of the self. The laws of nature are mathematical, and so are the laws of consciousness. The goals of this path are knowing true freedom, distinguishing the eternal vs. the perishable, and ascension to the highest level of knowledge--union with The One. I give an example of how contemplating the circle leads us from Body to Soul to Intellect to The One, following the Neoplatonic hierarchy of being.

New Book Release: Rudolf Steiner - Spiritual Beings in the Heavenly Bodies and in the Kingdoms of Nature

After many months of anticipation and recurrent checks to the SteinerBooks website, there is a new release in the Collected Works of Rudolf Steiner.  As volume 136 in the series, titled Spiritual Beings in the Heavenly Bodies and in the Kingdoms of Nature, the text contains 10 lectures given by Steiner in April 1912.

My main interest in this book is that it contains a detailed description of each of the nine angelic ranks, and gives a series of meditations for getting to know the nature of these beings.  Steiner described the work and activities of the angelic ranks in his Rosicrucian initiation manual Outline of Esoteric Science, showing their unique personalities, if that word applies here.  However he did not give any detailed meditaitons for connecting to the different angelic ranks, so the publication of this text will be very helpful to those seeking this kind of spiritual experience.

Rudolf Steiner, 1961 - 1925

The nine angelic ranks and their heavenly correspondences are as follows:

1. Seraphim - Spirits of Love - The One
2. Cherubim - Spirits of Harmony - The Constellations
3. Thrones - Spirits of Will - Saturn
4. Dominions/Kytiotetes - Spirits of Wisdom - Jupiter
5. Virtues/Dynamis - Spirits of Motion - Mars
6. Elohim/Powers - Spirits of Form - Sun
7. Archai/Principalities - Spirits of Personality - Venus
8. Archangels - Spirits of Fire - Mercury
9. Angels - Sons of Life - Moon

 From the book's description at SteinerBooks:

For Steiner, what constitutes the world are “beings”—including the ground of the world itself, the “Father being.” Steiner’s cosmology or angelology is personal, and it is known in relationship; therefore, he presents it in terms of states and deeds of conscious, and of the divine-spiritual beings whose states and deeds they are. The spiritual world is thus always a world of beings. The twin realizations—I am an “I” being and reality is constituted of other “I” beings—go together. Cosmology is angelology. Spiritual beings define experience of the nature of reality. In these lectures, the reader is led through a series of meditations to recognize these spiritual beings and come to know their deeds.

Steiner’s approach is “contemporary” in that, while continuous with the most ancient understanding of the cosmos, he discovers it for himself, out of his own experience and consciousness, and expresses it in his own words with a logic and language appropriate to our time. Thus he teaches us, his readers, to do the same. In these lectures, the reader is led through a series of meditations to recognize and come to know the activities and beings of the nine angelic hierarchies

Rudolf Steiner’s achievement in these lectures, as Valentin Tomberg said, “cannot be compared with the accomplishment of any contemporary seer or thinker, or with any of the Middle Ages or antiquity. It towers over them.”

I will be ordering this book from Amazon today.  If you are interested, please follow the link below to Amazon to order your copy.  This will support my efforts to continue bringing you this kind of information.

Youtube Video Lesson - The Five Platonic Solids - Basic Geometry

I have begun a YouTube video series on the five Platonic Solids.  In the first video, I describe the basic geometrical properties of the Platonic Solids.  We show how to define the Platonic Solids geometrically, observe their shapes and count their faces, edges, and vertices, and give a proof that these are the only five regular solids.

I also discuss the link to Plato and explain how Plato gave a correspondence to the elements in the dialogue Timaeus.  In future videos, I will go into much more depth on the mathematics of the Platonic Solids and describe meditation exercises with visualizing the solids.

Rekindling the Flame of Platonic Virtures in Mathematics Education

Following up on the previous post with some critique's of G. H. Hardy's A Mathematician's Apology and its misunderstanding of the virtues of mathematical discipline, as opposed to the Platonic virtues which cultivate spiritual self-knowledge.  See Rekindling the Flame of Platonic Virtures in Mathematics Education on Via Mathesis.

Geometric Objects as Platonic Forms

I have begun to write about Geometric Objects as Platonic Forms on Via Mathesis, describing the distinction between the circle seen with the eyes and the real circle seen with the mind.  This understanding leads us safely from the world of matter into the world of ideas.

First Post - Introduction and Purpose of this Blog

This blog will be used as the main 'command center' for all of my future online activities, collecting together and managing everything that I will be posting on my other blogs and youtube videos.

I have lots of ideas about producing online content and branding myself as a writer and teacher.  This will be the place that I will refer people who want to begin exploring my work, as well as a way for my readers and students to traverse the spectrum of my varied interests.