Escoteric systems are an attempt to describe the totality of human experience and understanding of reality within one codified set of relations that can apply to all things. Each attempts to do this, and each succeeds to some extent in describing the reality of its people as they understand it. Another people may understand reality differently, see things others may have missed, or missed things others have seen. So, the systems vary, as does their applicability. Some are more universal than others, some more culturally tied and limited.
An an example, any full pantheon is an escoteric system. A complete pantheon has dieties which describe every aspect of the human condition and environment as understood by man. Thus, you will continually have gods of different emotions and natural forces, as well as important things to society like crops, hunting, warfare and wine. The occultist sees this, and sees wisdom in it. By comparing pantheons, one can see which elements are universal, and speak of a deeper truth to the human condition. So, he makes tables of correspondances to understand the gnostic truth behind each system to find some more universal applications. Only, the bit I don't care for is assuming that because Gods are of the same aspect, they are the same Gods. Not so, if they are spiritual beings as we believe them to be. Thor and Shango might be similar, responsible for similar traits, and may even get along great with eachother, but replacing one for the other or invoking them as one being might not necessarially work out, regardless of how hard Joseph Campbel tries to shoehorn them into metamythic archetypes.
Looking past gods to occult references and systems, the same is true. As a simple example, duality. It is observed that all things can be describe in terms of duality, so this is an easy truth. Something is either here or there, you or me. The duality is the simplest and most complete escoteric system, as its simplicity includes all things. As well, it is easiest to add 1+1=1 to understand the trancendental unity of all things. Yin and Yang.
But perhaps that's not enough detail. You can see the world as a trinity: maiden, mother, and crone. Past, present, and future. Creator, preserver, destroyer. These work, and seem complete as well. Unifying 1+1+1=1 is also pretty easy math to understand the trancendental. But again, there is little detail in only three elements. Still not much to grab on to for practical workings.
What about 4? We have 4 elements, 4 seasons, 4 states of matter. This works well, and allows us to further divide human consciousness into 4 elements so as to better understand it. But interpretations begins to become less universal. What if there were 5 elements, such as used in the east? Or 6 planets? Or 7 chackras? The Taoists have 8 chackras, Tibetians 9 psychic centers. It gets more and more confusing, and difficult to map all things as detail is understood. So, systems increase in size.
We seem to have hit on a good one with 10, with the quaballa. We're really good at understanding other systems from its perspective. It again seems to describe all existance, and may well be another perfect system, abstract enough to describe all things. But its still too abstract, we need more detail. So, we add the 23 paths between the spheres, which together are also a complete system. This maps well onto alphabets.
This tradition is continued by the Norse, who do much the same with their own tree of life, and alphabet. Each element describes a different aspect of reality, and together they describe a whole. But is it the same whole? Is it a perfect whole? Maybe, maybe not. Our understanding is imperfect. What worked for 2 or 3 may not work as well for 23.
But even if a system of 9 and a system of 10 both described reality in full, do they match up directly? Well, try diving 9 into 10. Its not even. You get 1.11_. Most of them mostly match up, but there are differences, variations. You can look at each as a whole and they are complete, but within them they do not translate over directly. You can use one as a guide to understand the other, but you can't fully translate. You have to work from within the system you are using for it to remain valid. Otherwise, you end up with 1+1+1+1.111+1.111+1.111 etc not quite = 1. Though for some this can work, as 12/4 is 3, so elemental mappings can fall on the Zodiac and be easily understood. Some systems can include others effectively, some can not.
*runs out of steam*
Hm. Did I actually manage to make any points, I wonder? I think I managed to argue both sides again... |
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