CHAPTER II.

Tfte Xletigton of tfte Stars*
THE SACRED TRIDENT OF ATLANTIS AS IT APPEARED IN THE HEAVENS 22,000 YEARS AGO.
RELIGION based upon the stars of heaven, which men had gazed upon for thousands upon thousands of years, was the most natural one that could be conceived.
Their knowledge of the planetary system was very great, for they had, by patient labor and striving, and by prolonged observation and calculation, not only gained aiarge amount of knowledge but they had, through their spiritual development, became possessed of means of gaining occult knowledge not obtain- able through the physical, even with the aid of the best in- struments of modern times.
Therefore the Ancient Magi taught a good, pure, scien- tific and rational religion, with symbolism of the grandest kind and a system of morals not surpassed by any modern system.
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 19
The world made a poor exchange when it accepted in lieu thereof, a man-made religion of gods, devils, heavens and hells; requiring an endless chain of rank absurdities to sup- port the structure.
A BOOK OF SYMBOLS,
Any book written in a language other than symbolic, must in the course of time become nearly non-understandable
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through changes of language and meaning of words, to say nothing of loss through translations from translations, etc. But symbols are the same in all tongues and among all peoples. The German maiden understands the meaning of a kiss
20 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
and gives it the same interpretation as does the English or Spanish maiden.
Thus the heart is an emblem of love the world over. The diamond an emblem of wealth.
The Ancient Magi understood this principle and they also understood the deeper hidden principle that underlies all symbolism, that is that there i§ a spirit force back of every- thing that exists; that the spirit force or astral light of a symbolic thing becomes ajixed principle through the mind and spirit force of man acting upon it for ages and ages.
A materialist cannot understand this, for his mmd cannot grasp the meaning of spirit or mind.
When the writer was young, the coffin was stained and varnished usually only a few hours before being used, so that the peculiar smell came to be closely associated with death and funeral sermons.
I have conversed with many people regarding the sensa- tions experienced by myself whenever I smell fresh varnish, and I find that nearly all whom I have compared notes with have recognized the same thing. A shudder and peculiar sinking of vibration connected with death. Thus, by the mere association for a few generations we have erected a symbol of death appealing to only one sense, smelling.
Emblems appealing to the eye have more power because they appeal by a higher vibration. The vibrations coming to the retina of the eye to produce the sensation of sight, run into hundreds of trillions per second, many times higher than those producing smell or taste. The symbols of taste are quite powerful in some directions, however, as most peo- ple have observed.
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 21
SYMBOLISM OF NUMBERS,
At the very foundation of all symbolism lie mathematics and geometry. In fact, the universe itself is built up, from the smallest particle seen under the compound microscope, to the largest sun or even Nebula, on exact geometrical and mathematical principles.
Men have simply followed Nature's lead in the symbolic use of numbers. The number seven is interwoven through- out the very warp and woof of Nature's handiwork. In all ancient books we find a divine plan of sevens extending through the pages. Genesis is written from first to last on a number plan. The great pyramids of Egypt are bristling throughout with a wonderful plan of mathematical and geometrical calculation, based upon knowledge of the grand- est kind.
The basis of all numbers is one. The basis of all life is one. The basis of all that exists is one, the Universal Ego. But this number must be infinite, for the universe is infinite both in duration and extent. In fact the Universal Ego is made up of a countless number or entities, each in itself in- finite in certain ways. Thus we can say, that there is an infinite number of suns, an infinite number of uninhabited worlds; an infinite number of inhabited worlds; an infinite number of satellites, in the universe. For there can be no end to space, and the same law that peoples one portion with countless numbers of heavenly bodies, must operate to pro- duce them everywhere.
The Ancient Magi adopted, as their representation of infinity, a circle; for the very significant reason that a circle has no beginning or end and thus fulfills two of the con-
22 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
ditions. They reasoned that the number one followed by an infinite number of circles would be a fit symbolical and mathematical representation of the Infinite One.
KUMBER OF THE INFINITE.
100000000,000000 + CO
Later discoveries have proved that this is a wise thought and leads to many wonderful demonstrations of truth.
THE DIVINE OR SOUL NUMBER SEVEN.
The number 7 represents the soul in nature, and therefore becomes the center of all symbolic numbers, so to speak.
We find the sacred number interwoven into all the religious systems known on our planet, and the very warp and woof of Creation seem to bristle with sevens.
The sacred number of the Magi, and one that has been known in our symbolism as the strangest of all, is this
14 2857
Composed of twice 7: 4 times 7: 8 times 7 with the Ego added to the last figure.
It is a wonderful number, in a hundred different ways and is used in our temple work a great deal. We shall give some of the strange properties in various parts of this book.
It is evolved by dividing the number of the Infinite by the Soul number 7. Keep up the division to all eternity and you get nothing but the sacred number 142857 over and over. The wonders are best illustrated however with the emblems of the test book, as the reader will see further along.
The number 7 is the center of each suit of the test book, as can be best exemplified by the following.
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. ILLUSTRATION IN SUIT OF HEARTS.
23
__,
o
V
6
The mystic number can be represented in the emblems of krjowledge as follows:
♦
«
♦
V V
♦ ♦
V
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦ ♦
♦ ♦
Change any card from right to left and you get a true product by some number.
24 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
Change the Ace of Clubs to the other end and you have the product of the sacred number by 3. Place the 7 to the left and you have the product by 5.
Suppose you wish to multiply the sacred number by 15,
Set down the number 142857 Take 7 to begin, thus 714285
Add together 2142855 which is 15 times the number.
But you could have taken 2 from the right hand figure and by placing it at the left you would have obtained the same result.
Multiply the sacred number by 7 and you obtain a product all in nines.
THE OCCULT PROPERTIES OF THE NO. 9.
The number nine is the representative of another phase of symbolism representing the duality of the physical, plus the deific seven.
Therefore we find in tarotology a wonderful blending of these two numbers in harmonious relations in thou- sands of ways.
So much has been written concerning the mystic qualities of the number nine, that it will be unnecessary to go into the subject at much length in this work. All products of nine and sums of products as well as products of sums have an N**^ root of nine.
Many occult demonstrations have been given by means of a knowledge of the properties of this mystic nine.
Take any number, large or small, and place with it a rever- sal of itself and subtract one number from the other and the
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 25
difEerence will always reduce to nine, and is always a multi- ple of that number.
Example— 356781 Reversed— 187653
Difference=169128=N 9 Take any numljer and subtract from it the sum of its own digits and the difference always has an N*^ root — nine.
THE MYSTIC STAR TAROT.
26 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
One of the most wonderful combinations of the 7 and 9 properties is found in the Star Tarot of the Ancient Magi. This Star is composed of 2 equilateral triangles, one dark and one light, representing Darkness and Light of astronomy or the body and soul or physical and spiritual in nature.
Each triangle represents 3 from its geometrical quality. United by multiplication, 3 times 3 or 9. The tarot, or Magic Square in the center is a 3 times 3 tarot with niiie as its central figure.
Upon each pomt of the star is seen an emblem card from the Mystic Test Book, which taken by spot values represents the sacred number 142857 in regular order as the earth moves about the sun
The spot values of any two opposite emblems added to- gether produce 9, the Central Card spot value.
The Quarter values added in the same manner make 5, or the 9 minus the quadrature or 4 in the square.
The Solar values and spirit values have like properties which will be taken up later.
The writer has spent days in study of this Mystic Chart and still finds new wonders upon nearly every examination of it. The combinations of 7 and 9 are truly wonderful, and show the product of a master mind.
We shall again produce it under the head of tarotology and perhaps a third time to illustrate the spirit of numbers and the spirit of potentials in medicine.
All this leads us to an intelligent consideration of the true nature and meaning of the symbolism used in the test book. We find that it consists of a union of the symbols of
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 27
time, of numbers, of human relations, of spirituality, geome- trical forms and astronomy, all within a small compact space without words to be misconstrued, misunderstood or mistranslated.
We find that everything about these mystic emblems has its particular meaning even to the forni in which the spots are arranged.
ASTRONOMICAL AERANGEMENT.
The 52 emblems or pages represent the 52 Aveeks in a year.
The 12 court emblems represent the 12 months in a year.
The 13 cards in each suit represent the sun and the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
28 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
The four suits represent the 4 seasons.
Chart showing the emblems arranged to illustrate the above arrangement will be found on preceding page.
In the spring of the year the birds mate. In the spring- time of life or the first quarter, love is the master passion. The heart was therefore chosen as the emblem of the first quarter and the first season.
The next stage of life is represented by the trefoil or clover leaf of summer. Knowledge is best gained and re- tained in the summer of life, the second period.
Therefore the shamrock or " club," became the emblem of knowledge, intelligence, heat, argument, or even quarrels and law suits under some planets.
The third season, autumn, has for its emblem the diamond, representative of wealth. The third period of man's life is the one in which he is best able to gain wealth. In the fall of the year the crops are sold and the wealth of the harvest realized.
Winter or the fourth quarter of the Zodiac, is rep- resented by the spade or acorn. By a strange and yet natural transformation, the acorn, which represented the symbolism of the death and burial of the physical form was changed among some nations to the spade which represented the same thing. But the acorn, when planted in the soil, sends forth a life principle which becomes a new tree in time. So it had a deeper signification than the spade, which symbolizes death without resurrection.
But the spade being an instrument of labor, it becomes a symbol of labor and death combined.
In addition to the quadratic division of the test book
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 29
there is a two-fold division into dark and light, finally becoming black and red. These symbolize night and day as- tronomically. The darkness and light of life etc., as applied to man. The 52 emblems being multiplied by the 7 planets under which they rule in succession, make the days in the year, less one. There being no ruling card for the 31st of December.
The Ancient therefore used the 365th day of the year as a holiday, or festival day, doing no work upon that day.
A very few years ago quite a radical change was made in the style of the Court Cards by the manufacturers, by making them " double headers." Before this the Kings and Knaves had legs and feet showing below their Court robes. But the mystic emblems were preserved as far as possible and yet appear as of yore.
The "winged globe" with its seven balls, emblem of mercury, is yet borne by the king of wisdom, and each of his brothers bear secret emblems that have survived the changes of centuries.
Their hair and beards yet curl as in the olden time as they hold up the sword of justice or the battle axe of power.
The Queens look from the same Egyptian eyes, wear the same garb, and hold modestly in their hand the secret lotus flower of innocence and virtue.
30 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
The good and industrious queen of spades has not even laid aside her emblem of labor, in all the ages past.
i
And our good friends, called "Jacks" by some, em- blematic of the younger and unmarried portion of the male persuasion, still bear their little emblems. A mystic leaf is seen in the hand of one; but few persons could guess its meaning. They still wear the curled locks. Two being young and two older, the difference can usually be seen upon their faces.
They were originally honest men all, but, being next the Koyal Couple, the accceptance of bribes, in modern times, by those in like position, transformed them into "Knaves."
And Knaves they remain to this day.
Now, good friends, some of you may ask, why it is that these characteristics, appertaining to this book and to none other in existence, have been preserved in a world where everything else has changed. Why have not. the engravers and printers changed them entirely out of their original form as they have everything else?
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 31
Why have they kept them confined to the same number, 52, as of yore?
There could have been no law to compel this wonderful thing.
Why is it then, that, as one authority states, "a pack of cards, substantially the same as those in use now, known to be over a thousand years old, is in existence."
The only anathema ever pronounced against those who should change, by taking away or adding to this book, was promulgated only to the members of the order and has come down to us only as an attachment, fastened upon the end of the mystic book of Revelations, one of the few books written by " inspiration " in the entire Bible.
That could have possessed no terrors, for it has not even protected that ancient work from thousands of changes, interpolations and errors.
Reader, you may well ask these questions. The answer is this: Manufacturers, interested church men and inventors have attempted time and time again to change the figures, the emblems, the faces, and even the number of cards in this book. During and after the war of the Rebellion a heavy tax was placed upon cards containing 52 emblems to th© pack, or having the well known emblems, hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades upon them.
Manufacturers attempted to change the emblems to certain war emblems, such as crossed swords, cannons, etc; the Court cards were changed to high army oflScers. One ambitious inventor had beautifully engraved modern kings and queens upon his make of cards Queen Victoria herself appearing as the queen of hearts.
32 THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK.
But all in vain. Fortunes were squandered to no purpose. The people ivould not have them at anij price. Soldiers would "hang on" to the old, well worn and greasy "test book," and when that could no longer be used, would pay a dollar for a new one, while the gaudy new style cards were cast contemptuously into the ditch by the road-side.
These changes have been attempted in other countries. In Italy and several other Catholic countries, interested parties have thought to do away with this little book, which they call the "devil's picture book," by introducing a highly colored lot of cards with cups and virgins and bells and other devices upon the faces. But you cannot get even an Irishman to use them, and in spite of extensive adver- tising they have fallen flat.
In the meantime, the manufacturers of the genuine old magic book, have grown wealthy and sell at present only in 100 gross lots, to dealers.
They change the backs over and over to every imaginable figure or design. But the faces must remain the same, or they are " no go," as one manufacturer quaintly remarks.
There is no question, whatever, in my mind, but that the magic and mystic symbolism attached to, and con- nected with the pages of this book, has been the means, the occult means of preserving it intact as shown.
Underneath the physical senses of mankind, there is a psychic recognition of the hidden things in nature. Those who think but very little of such matters, apparently, really recognize the principles of law and the manifestations of the " soul in things," Hard-headed business men, with no spiritual development, that can be discerned, recognize
THE MYSTIC TEST BOOK. 33
the reign of law, and notice what is called " luck " good and bad. If "luck," so-called, was not a state brought about through regularly acting laws, there could be no con- stancy to.it. Instead of a man's bad luck pursuing him hours, days or weeks at a time, he should be just as likely to have splendid luck one minute after the worst kind.
Although everything in nature exemplifies the law, there is no other thing that illustrates it to such a nicety as does our Magic Test Book.
" Gypsies," those lineal descendants of Egyptian races of olden time, recognize this fact and are noted as "card readers" of human destiny. They have the knowledge through natural descent and intuitive power. But an educated mystic of the order of the Magi can discount the work of the most expert gypsy in that line.
Nearly any old card player will tell you wonderful stories of "runs of luck" with cards.
Not one in fifty, who has had any amount of ex- perience with them, will deny the mysterious properties. During my two years experience in the Temple work I have learned that the only persons who do not understand these occult properties, to some extent, even before en- tering the house of Libra, are those who never handled the cards in their lives and do not even know the names of the emblems. Many such persons quickly discern the occult powers, however, whan opportunity offers.