Derived from the Emerald Tablet, we have the old saying, “As Above, So Below”. In the Bible we find reference to man being created “in the image” of God. Hermetic writings sometimes refer to Liber Munde; The Book of the World.
These concepts are all related and deserve much thought but I don’t want to get bogged down trying to explain them with words. We are skirting on the very edge of where labels are useful.
That help? It is the modern astronomical symbol for the sun but it’s origins lay in the realm of alchemy. What does it mean in plain language? Voltaire once took a crack at it, “God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.”
See? You’ve got to get up above the words to understand this stuff.
Okay, what we are dealing with here are the Qabalistic emanations of God and the fact that all things are a reflection or an image of the God-head (Kether). Therefore, we can often learn to comprehend higher spiritual concepts by using everyday relationships as a symbolic representation of the Celestial. I know how hard this can be to understand but stick with it. This is the language of wizardry.
How’s you imagination? Have you ever day-dreamed? Do you lose yourself in dreams while your body sleeps? If the answer is “no”, then go watch television or something. You’re wasting your time here.
Picture something in your imagination that doesn’t “really” exist. How about an eight-legged kitten? Can you see it in your mind’s eye? Skittering across the room like a great, furry spider (but cuter)? See it scramble up a tree-trunk? Wow! Now notice that you will experience some mild emotional reaction to “seeing” this creature. How would you react if this thing actually ran across in front of you right now? Amazement? Laughter? Wonder? Fear? Disgust? A little of each?
Is this thing you’ve imagined real? Of course it is. You just created it. It will fade away from your awareness when you stop thinking about it. But it might come back tonight in your dreams. And then that thing will be as real as can be. And your emotional reaction will be a whole lot stronger too. If you are scared by the spider-kitten (spitten?), you might deem it a nightmare and try to wake yourself up. As Above. So Below.
Although you are dreaming, some part of you knows it’s a dream and can wake you up when you no longer want to be in the dream. As Above, So Below.
A “lucid dream” occurs when that same part of you realizes that you are dreaming. You then “wake-up” within the dream. You are still in Wonderland but it is no longer in control. You are. The world hasn’t changed. You have. And now you have Powers. As Above, So Below.
In occultism, you will find references to the “astral” world. This is simply an old word for the imagination, the dream-scape. There is a very important clue hidden here. Why use that particular word?
“Astral” – “of, relating to, or coming from the stars” – Merriam-Webster
What in the world do stars have to do with the imagination? With dreaming?
Alright, deep breath. Here it is…
The stars and galaxies and universes are infinite. Really, really think about that. Infinite. Now, in a truly infinite universe, any world you can imagine exists out there somewhere. And you can visit any of them by using your imagination. (Of course, that’s a two-way street…)
Everything is Real.
As Above, So below.