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The Journey of the Soul
It should be common knowledge that, in traditional esoteric cosmology, the soul does not simply appear in the world, but rather makes its way down from the Light into matter. Along this path, it must take on the negative qualities of the seven guides in its impending incarnation and cross so-called thresholds, gates guarded by their keepers. This obstacle also exists on the path back to Kether, to the light from which it once fled.
This topic is quite interesting and noteworthy; in this article, I would like to examine the convergence of symbols from Ptolemaic cosmology, ancient Egyptian theology, and even Vatican iconography. For all of this seems to point to two gates in heaven.
Ptolemaic Worldview
To better understand these two gates, it is important to understand Ptolemaic cosmology. In this worldview, the Earth stands at the center, surrounded by nested celestial spheres, each assigned to one of the seven planetary bodies, enveloped by the sphere of the fixed stars.
Upon the soul’s incarnation on Earth, the soul is compelled during its descent from Kether to Malkuth (if I may be permitted to use the vocabulary of the Kabbalists) and during its physical death upon its ascent, to traverse the seven planetary celestial spheres; there, it accumulates the planetary qualities and must also return them in order to be permitted to pass.
Thus, the soul clothes itself in flesh to enter the Earth, layer by layer according to the respective qualities of the planets it must now overcome.
Gen 3:21 NKJV
So the Lord God made tunics of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.Gen 2:25 NKJV
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Through its new garment of flesh, the soul is no longer naked on earth and has forgotten itself.
The question that often remains unanswered in this model is:
“Where exactly does the soul cross the boundary between heaven and earth? Where are the gates?”
The Two Intersections in the Sky
The answer to our question lies in an astonishing astronomical fact. There are two great circles in the sky: the ecliptic and the galactic equator. On a spherical surface, these form two intersections that are always exactly opposite each other. The first intersection lies between the constellations Gemini and Taurus. The second intersection lies between Scorpio and Sagittarius. In my opinion, the people of antiquity recognized this astronomical phenomenon and wrapped it in symbolism and mythology. They called these two points of intersection the Silver Gate and the Golden Gate. The Silver Gate is located between the horns of Taurus and is the gate of birth; the Golden Gate between Scorpio and Sagittarius is the point of departure for the soul, the gate back to the Divine.
Guardian of the Silver Gate – Isis
A revealing examination of the Egyptian iconography of the goddess Isis, depicted with two horns and a crescent moon within them, leads me to conclude that she is the guardian of the gate between the horns of Taurus. She thus stands figuratively at the threshold of the descent. The lunar disc is often associated with silver, and this is no coincidence here, but rather intentional symbolism. The moon is the last celestial body before Earth in the Ptolemaic series of spheres; it is the final veil the soul must pass through to incarnate on Earth and forget itself. It is a fitting image, for the moon has no light of its own but functions as a kind of mirror that reflects the light of the sun. This parable also applies to the soul, which perceives its divine light less and less directly.
Viewed in this light, we can reinterpret Isis’s mourning for the dismembered Osiris: namely, as the mourning of the gatekeeper for every soul that crosses the threshold and loses itself in matter.
Guardian of the Golden Gate – Winged Scarab
We linger in Egyptian mysticism and consider the god Khepri. He is the god of the rising sun and renewal, depicted as a scarab or as a human with a scarab head.
The scarab, or simply dung beetle, exhibits a behavior observed by the Egyptians: it rolls a ball of dung backward across the ground, headfirst, using its hind legs. The Egyptians’ interpretation is based on the apparent retrograde motion of the sun against the backdrop of the fixed stars. A perfect natural spectacle, that bestowed upon the god Khepri his scarab symbolism and the attributes of the rising sun.
This allows us to infer a symbolic metaphor, for the soul at the golden gate also moves against the current, in the opposite direction of descent, back toward its source. The iconography of this guardian is depicted as a winged scarab with a sun disk; the wings are meant to emphasize the ability to rise above the earthly realm, and the sun disk symbolizes the connection to the source of light, the Supreme Being.
Vatican Symbolism
Secret symbols can be found in many traditions. As an example, I would like to explore the Vatican and demonstrate that those with the necessary understanding receive this knowledge through symbolism.
The papal coat of arms features two keys, crossed diagonally - one silver, one gold - connected by a red cord, with the tiara above them. The official theological interpretation is based on the Gospel of Matthew, specifically as follows:
Matt 16:19 NKJV
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus handed Peter the keys to the Kingdom of God, granting him the authority as the supreme gatekeeper and thereby appointing him as the first Pope. These silver and gold keys correspond directly to the silver and gold gates of cosmology, only encoded in Christian language. Further iconographic evidence in the Vatican is the fresco of the handing over of the keys in the Sistine Chapel; it serves as a visual testimony to this tradition within the Vatican itself.
Microcosm
“As above, so below”, the ultimate Hermetic principle also applies here; what holds true cosmically also applies to the individual. The soul’s journey is not linear, but follows an astronomical structure. Everyone should ascertain what effect the Silver Gate has on them in their daily life, which controls and influences them through incarnation and the properties of the spheres. The path to the Golden Gate is a daily challenge, the conscious beginning of inner ascent.
Will everyone recognize the conscious moment of the Golden Gate and be allowed to cross the threshold?
The gates will not close, and their guardians will not pass away; they are marked in the heavens, and what one makes of them is up to the individual.
An insightful article is recommended as a supplement: As Above, So Below – The Mirrored Principle of the Tree of Life
References
Sign in to leave a mark.
The Esoteric Teachings of the Planet Isis
Isis is the co-ruler of the sign of Taurus and exalted in Libra; Pluto remains unaffected by this and is the co-ruler of the sign of Aries and exalted in Scorpio. Consequently, there is a great deal of confusion circulating regarding these two axes of rulership, leading to significant misinterpretations in practical astrology.
Dionysian Echoes in the Aegean: The Zeybeks of Anatolia and the Maenads of Pelion
Throughout the Aegean world, ancient religious traditions have often survived in unexpected forms, preserved not through formal theology but through dance, music, ritual, and collective memory
As Above, so Below: The Mirrored Principle of the Tree of Life
The “Tree of Life” is a visual representation of a cosmic order that serves as a symbol of the connection between Heaven (Macrocosm), Earth (Microcosm) and the Underworld (Prima Materia), as well as of immortality and the awe-inspiring nature of the universe. The question that now remains open, and which is open to many different interpretations, is following: “Why does the divine descent from Kether to Malkuth; from the human perspective, becomes an ascent from grotesque matter to subtle spirit?”