CHAPTER XVIII.

The Number 13. THE GREAT DEEP.

"Every number has a certain power which is not expressed by the figure or symbol employed to denote quantity only. This power rests in an occult connection existing between the relation of things and principles in nature of which they are the expressions."The Kabala of Numbers, Sephariel, I, 5.

The word necromancy is formed from two Greek words meaning: "corpse" and "divination." Its accepted meaning therefore is a form of divination through the evocation of the dead. It is also connected with sorcery, witchcraft and the black art. It is no wonder then that number 13 tends to awaken evil forces and draw them to one who ignorantly accepts such a perverted meaning and bows to it. But it is a most powerful number for good when understood and connected in the mind always with the Christ and the enlightenment of mankind. By the correlation with that which number 13 symbolizes, the spiritualized will of the sincere Disciple can indeed quicken the dead or dormant seeds of spiritual life in his nature. But like the necromancer, he dare not evoke its powers unless he is ready to face and subdue the evil in himself when it comes forth. It comes forth only that through the power of the Light of the Christ, he may recognize it and give it no quarter until redeemed.

The danger of this number is that by its power the Disciple awakens into new life all that is in him both of good and evil that it may come forth at the command of the Christ. It is Lazarus coming forth from the tomb but with the grave clothes still about him. But like Lazarus, he is awakened and if he wills it he can soon remove the grave clothes. So it is with us, the good is intensified and the evil, if recognized and fearlessly faced, can be transmuted into good by the same Voice that called it forth. The weapons with which to conquer are a pure heart and an unwavering faith in the

Divine Love and in the protection of the Christ-light within and a fearless determination to face and overcome all that holds us back.

Many students when passing through this period invoke the shades of their dead past almost unconsciously. Therefore they have horrid visions or disagreeable psychic experiences. Hence it is important that some help should be given to those who are passing through this phase of development. While we most emphatically warn all our readers against any form of forcing their psychic development, yet when those faculties are unfolding naturally, in answer to the call of the Christ to come forth from the tomb, the pupil must be told how to guard against the evil influences that are ever ready to rush in the moment the doors (centers) of the citadel are opened. We have therefore given full instructions on this subject in our book Realms of the Living Dead.

To the true sincere and loving Soul, Number 13 is a blessing, for in it the Christ stands in the midst of his of Destiny and sheds the creative Light of Truth on all. But woe to him who, seeking only phenomena, self-gratification and selfish indulgences, finds Number 13 taking a prominent place in his life. For it will indeed prove to be the Number of Necromancy and will raise from the sleep of death all the demons of self to flatter, betray and ultimately destroy him, unless they are dismissed and prevented from dipping with him into the dish of life-force as he sups at his round table with his disciples, i.e., his faculties.

In the Book of Concealed Mysteries, Number 13 is called "the Vast Countenance" and is represented in the Grand Man as the forehead, "the benevolence of those benevolences which are manifested through the prayers of the inferior powers." Also in the same book Number 13 is called the "Waters of Punishment and Mercy" as well as of cleansing. Here we have the meaning of 13 beautifully if cryptically expressed. For the forehead is the seat of intelligence and also of will, and benevolence is that benign and loving patience which mani

fests continually manward, even though man in his ignorance evokes and vainly seeks for help from the inferior powers. It also holds the idea that the very deceit and perversion of the life-force by these evil powers can, by this divine benevolence, be turned into prayers for man's ultimate redemption. And the Waters of Punishment, Mercy and Cleansing, what are they but the tears wrung from man's eyes through suffering? because he has lost his way in the darkness and is so blinded by their scalding flood that he cannot see the benevolence of the Vast Countenance expressed in the zodiac.

A certain advanced disciple had a vision in which she seemingly was taken to Paradise and ushered by the Angels into the Presence of this Vast Countenance, which seemed to fill the entire universe with its radiance, permeating every atom of her being like a subtile fire and enchanting all her senses like an intoxicating and most fragrant perfume; like a luminous Light, and a sound of almost overpowering rhythmic music lifting, falling and throbbing through the universe; hence an appeal to every sense, even senses not known on earth. Before this Vast Countenance the Angels bade her kneel, then brought to her broken bread which they bade her eat, telling her this was composed of all the tiny grains of effort she had made to feed the children of men with the Bread of Life which she had cast on the waters and forgotten, or which had only brought her bitter disappointment and sorrow. Yet every grain of that spiritual bread had been gathered by the Angels and ground fine by the Mills of the Gods and was now returned after many days as spiritual Bread and given her to eat. They then brought her a cup filled with a bright, sparkling golden liqueur, which they told her was extracted from all the tears of sorrow, disappointment and repentance she had shed on earth through her long pilgrimage of lives. These had been carefully gathered by the Angels and preserved and decocted into the Wine of the Spirit, the true Elixir of Life, which was now given her to drink. This is an example of the true power of 13 to gather up all the

experiences of the of our lives (our zodiac) and extract the spiritual essences from all our efforts for good that seem to have been lost or to have been ineffective.

In the Book of Concealed Mystery number 13 is also called "The Waters," or the Great Deep, the surging sea of humanity. These waters we are told in Genesis were divided into two parts. "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." Thus while humanity, being the result of the offspring of the Great Mother-force, is the sea, or the water below the firmament, the water above the firmament is the astral light or according to the Book of Concealed Mystery, the "Mercy" through which judgment and punishment are mitigated. Judgment is but justice or the working of the Law of Karma, while punishment is only the suffering necessarily resulting from broken law, which alone can teach man not to pollute the Great Sea by evil thoughts and acts. Mercy then is the constant overshadowing love of "the Good" turning every experience into ultimate blessing; the down pouring of the Water of Life from the Divine Mother. Just as vegetation on the earth can only come forth when nourished by terrestrial water, no matter how bright the Sun may shine upon it, so the spiritual seeds of good can only come forth from the arid soil of experience and suffering as the Water of Life (Mercy) is poured upon them or the power of Love and Mercy sink into the heart, no matter how radiantly the Sun of Righteousness shines forth.

Number 13 is also compared in the same book to Unity, arguing that the face of the "Great Deep," the abyss, et cetera, is the countenance formed from "Ain Soph, the limitless one; the first Sephira, the Crown."

Kabalistically 13 is called Rest and is sacred to Saturn.

CHAPTER XIX.

The Number 13. THE SNAKE DIVINITY.

"A number is a seal or impress of natural law as surely as is the shape of a flower, the sound of an atmospheric vibration, the color of an etheric wave."The Kabala of Numbers, Sephariel, 1, 20.

Among the American Indians Number 13 is held in great reverence. The Indians of Yucatan also hold 13 in high esteem, as their Snake Divinities are 13 in number. Yet they also fear it, for some idea of its meaning and power has been handed down to them from the ancient Mayas and Aztecs whose priests were well versed in all occult and esoteric symbology, lore and practices. The method of reckoning among the Mayas was by weeks of 13 days; their year containing 28 weeks of 13 days and 1 day over. The period of 13 years with them was called a "week of years." The week of 13 extra days accumulated during this time was considered sacred and was devoted to high festivals, sacrifices and religious ceremonials. It has been reported that at every return of this sacred 13 year period, in an almost inaccessible city hidden deep in the mountains, a strange ceremony takes place. The body of a white priestess, said to be in a state of catalepsy or suspended animation, is brought out from its crypt and carried in a magnificent procession and shown to all the people.

The legend concerning this ceremony is that ages ago, before the Mayas reached the zenith of their glory, there came to them a white child who had remarkable psychic and prophetic powers. She was said to have come from "over the mountains" and as the city was surrounded by inaccessible peaks which made communication with the outside world impossible except through a secret pass known only to the priests-the appearance of such a child was considered miraculous. This white child was given into the care of the priests