1 Vault of Babalon: The Three Temples: Moon, Sun and Star . 2 Arthur Hacker - By the Waters of Babylon (1888), public domain. 3 Copyright © June 21, 2015, Melissa Rovelli SelfPubBookCovers.com/Daniela “Come fairies Take me out of this dull world, For I would ride with you Upon the wind and dance Upon the mountains like a flame.” -- W.B. Yeats 4 Dedicated to: Mabel, called by some Star. Curiously, I set out to write a book about her and somehow wrote this book instead. Special thanks goes to Alan Richardson, a man of truth, wisdom and integrity, who was kind enough to offer me writing tips, as well as being an inspiration to me. This book is indebted to him and his works. 5 Editor : Paul Joseph Rovelli, not only was the editor who pushed me to research and work harder, his input meshed with mine in a marriage of ideas that spurred this project to finish, and I couldn’t have written about Sacred Marriage without his partnership. 6 Author’s Note I find it interesting how a lot of artists, musicians, or writers set out to produce a vision/work and somehow the finished project is way off course than they had planned. I had wanted my book to be about Maiya Tranchell Hayes (Maiya Curtis Webb), who never liked attention and would have probably hated the idea. Gradually, I ended up writing a book on Sacred Marriage. I'm still not sure how that happened, but the journey of it was profound to me. This work comes from freedom of personal expression, and when it comes to writing a book based on the works of predecessors, others may not like it. This is my interpretation, a story for a new generation, and I seek to encourage others to add their voices as well, to carry the Mysteries ever forward. 7 Introduction “Above the Celestial Fire there is an Incorruptible Flame, ever sparkling, Source of Life, Fountain of all Beings, and Principle of all Things. This Flame produces all, and nothing perishes save that which it consumes. It reveals itself by virtue of itself This Fire cannot he contained in any place; it is without form and without substance, it girdles the Heavens and from it there proceeds a tiny spark which: makes the whole fire of the Sun, Moon and Stars.” —Comte de Gabalis [1913ev] The concept of a divine spark buried within each person is central to the Western Mystery Tradition, and it was the purpose of the ancient wisdom to bring life to this silent guardian angel within in order to illuminate life on this earth for all. Not an instant attainment as feigned by modern aspirants, but it is a lifelong journey that consists of first stoking the fire and then refining it by the act of one’s spiritual quest and ensuing struggles. It also requires constant studying to keep it lit, to stay on track, and most importantly, it demands laying yourself naked and open, and facing yourself as if the greatest light, and at the same time, a hideous demon, and then embracing it, owning it, and correcting it as you will. You are a god creating your own image, not the other way around. When 8 you realize that, you will be ready to stand atop the pyramid and see no difference, no separation from your contribution to creation. So, come with me, dear seeker, and let me point you the way. I can only lead you so far, the road narrows and my light is like the forgotten twinkle of the fey, the Shining Ones of old. Alone, from here on, you must pass through this inner fire and let it consume you until you are as fine as silver. This, my friend, is the first temple. Next, this fine metal shall be tried by intellect until it is made gold upon entry to the second temple. Here, you shall shine as if illumined by the secret sun, but there is more, my seeker. So much more. Let the moon and sun wed, water and fire join. Lastly, it is the “lofty ones” who shall be chosen to merge into the third temple as mercury, which reconciles salt and Sulphur. Here, you, if in a syzygy, will join your consort into a divine marriage and to congeal with one purpose. Yes, this is the goal, and the purpose of this book is to expound on the ideal of Hieros Gamos, a symbolic ritual that plays out with a marriage between participants representing deities, and this will be one version of it, with a look at it from ancient and modern perspectives. AL I.50: "There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! There are three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross must pass through fire; let 9 the fine be tried in intellect, and the lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system & system; let not one know well the other!" As you consider the above, I invite you to join me on this journey. Accept this invitation if you seek to experience a sacred bond with your significant other, even if only symbolically. Don’t let the wording such as male or female get in the way, as in the end, the male must be balanced with the female, and the female with the male, whether within ourselves or in our partner, and each conjoined with the other, a whole being reconciled, and it isn’t meant to alienate anyone in their sexuality. Focus on one acting as negative and one positive, and become a syzygy. Imagine now that you want to undertake this venture. Ask yourself, are you committed to start the work as a couple, to face the three temples together and all their ordeals? If so, this book is to inspire a couple to marry in three temples (moon, sun, star), to unite Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshama, allegorically, in order to add a further dimension to the partnership. Hopefully, the pair will be motivated to make their own ceremonies to mark this change. This introduction also details what went into creating the story and what foundation it bases itself on. I knew what I wanted to portray, and I 10 was getting hints all along as in the quote below, but these temples were like ruins I had to rebuild so that I could revive them for use within my creative eye. The way was pointed to, but I wondered if I could grasp the depth of what it implied, or would it all vanish like a mirage before I could see it clearly? “One mounteth unto the Crown by the moon and by the Sun, and by the arrow, and by the Foundation, and by the dark home of the stars from the black earth.” —Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente To begin with, what are the three temples? That is a long story; so let us began with a brief look. A while ago, I began my quest for these three temples after rereading The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, which left me wondering…what are they? How will I find them? They wouldn’t leave my mind as if they beckoned from the other world; knocking on the walls of my side of reality to awaken and begin my journey. “This day, today Is the Royal Wedding day. For this thou wast born And chosen of God for joy Thou mayest go to the mountain Whereon three temples stand.” —The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz