The World

The 21st Key

Colour: Indigo
Sound: A Natural
Planet: Saturn
DOUBLE LETTER: Power / Servitude

This Path connects the Kingdom with the Foundation, the balanced powers of the Microcosm represented by the Hexagram. The Hexagram is formed by connecting the 7 Planets on the Tree of Life of which this Path is Saturn.

Moving up the tree from here will result in a better understanding of the Personality forged by the Higher Self of Beauty in each incarnation. The Higher Self functions through the Personality if its influence is to be brought to the physical plain, just as Pure Spirit functions through the Higher Self.

The Personality is the experience collecting vehicle for the Spirit. All the Paths of the Personality lead directly into the physical body and therefore the consciousness which we associate as 'the self' is directly connected to our body.

The human understanding of the refined universe and its patterns are based, in the first instance on what we learn on Earth. This is the experiential foundation for consciously travelling all the other paths.

If you examine the cube of space, Tao is found at the center of the 3 Maternal Letters, the symbolic forms of energy from which manifestation was created (Aleph, Mem and Shin) and is also known as the Sanctum Santorum. The place where these primary energies are balanced. The place where humanity experience the consciousness of the Greater Universe, and this experience tells us something of its Creator (as above - so below).

To illustrate this further, the World is representative of matter whilst the Cosmos is all energy. The distinction between mind and body are therefore perceived, but not actual. Therefore, when we dream or meditate and see pictures or reels appear, those are in fact the most refined forms of matter. From the four worlds, it is only the Kingdom in Assiah which includes the senses.

A symbol of both the World and the Fool is the swastika or gammadion. In the Crown it spins so fast that the arms are perceived as a unified point. In the Kingdom it has slowed down to the extent that the arms are not only perceivable but perfectly balanced around a central point. This is the complete and full expression of the One in Matter.

The experiences of the Path of the World must be taken to the gateways of the 7 Palaces of Assiah.

On this Path we encounter our own individual Personality consciousness. Everything inside our heads. The initiation of the Personality into its own structure, which is a microcosmic universe.

In order to successfully travel this Path, a person must bring all the different personalities into a self-understanding balance or face the torment of phantoms of their own making. Part of the discovery is in the extent to which this process of inner exploration is guided by the very real protection and assistance given to mankind by the Archangels.

It must at all times be kept in mind that this path is a path of entry into the astral and the astral aims to deceive. Beware therefore not to accept any images which appear to you as a reality UNTIL you have applied every test of REASON and FEELING. There will be a considerable amount of gross to be sorted out before things become subtle.

This path is best approached with the virtue of earth - Discrimination. It is only via discrimination that you can place yourself in the balance symbolised by the dancing woman. She is draped in a caph-shaped scarf representing the Wheel of Fortune. The animals are the four elements united by the fifth - Spirit.

The female figure in the card is the fullest expression of the Great Mother who is also represented in the Empress, the Star and the High Priestess. She is all the principles behind what we perceive as matter. The cosmic dancer, the administrator of the elements. She is the doorway from and to earth. She gives life and destroys it as she rules both birth and death.

In the Empress she is displayed solidly on a supernal throne whilst on the World she is dancing. The forces of nature are directed by the wand she carries. These are the forces we must learn to direct in ourselves. She is surrounded by a wreath or oval shape which symbolises the womb through which we pass at birth and great womb we pass through a death.