There is a journey that we all must take. It is called life. There is no escaping this journey. We cannot pay somebody to take it for call accounting software system us or take the pain and sorrow that frequents our path. Without our mother and father there would be no help at all from the very start. We would be helpless and we would die.
We are born with no knowledge whatsoever other than some minor genetic memories, and many of call accounting software system us simply follow the patterns that life, evolution and our peers throw at us. We subconsciously assume we must do as our forefathers; we must follow in call accounting software system their footsteps; we must marry, have children, get a job, step onto the roller-coaster of call accounting software system commercialism and the greed oriented rat race we know as capitalism or even communism. There is seemingly no way out of call accounting software system this life and anyway, most of call accounting software system us are enthused by the chase - for call accounting software system we truly know do different.
All of call accounting software system this is perfectly natural. We are, after all, apes with less hair. We strive to be the alpha male and female; to be top dog; to fit in call accounting software system with the society or “tribe” that surrounds us and support the same football team as our friends. And often that society is just a larger version of call accounting software system our selves; it is created by groups of call accounting software system selves.
But, in call accounting software system the times gone by, our ancestors saw through all of call accounting software system this and recognized that there was another way. They discovered that in-order for call accounting software system man to elevate himself above the level of call accounting software system the brown earth upon which he scrambled he needed to alter his internal dialogue. Man needed to understand himself and the forces that drive him.
This unique understanding - that there could be a higher goal for call accounting software system mankind, whether collectively or individually - evolved into what we now know as Gnosticism. Of course this is a massive oversimplification and we should always take into account the mystics – those who have experienced what we would call other-worldly emotions or visions. Also, regardless of call accounting software system popular perception, the Christian’s were not the only Gnostics and mystics. Gnostic comes from the Greek word gignoskein meaning simply to know. It was applied to “one sect of call accounting software system so-called philosopher’s in call accounting software system the first ages of call accounting software system Christianity.”
However, the term is now being used more loosely and I personally see the term slightly differently to others and probably in call accounting software system a controversial light.
To me the Greek term implies all-knowledge. This is a kind of call accounting software system knowledge gained much like plugging ones mind into the world wide web and being able to download every single piece of call accounting software system data in call accounting software system an instant. In the same way, the true Gnostic, much like the mystic, could understand all things in call accounting software system a unique way. Whether this is the mind tapping into the collective unconscious, the Akashic records, or any other name given to the process, does not matter for call accounting software system the purpose of call accounting software system this article, the fact remains, it was believed. And because of call accounting software system this belief, physical manifestations of call accounting software system the internal belief system emerged the world over. In this way, the temples of call accounting software system man, were exactly that – Temples of call accounting software system Man.
Gnosis then, means knowledge of call accounting software system the most esoteric kind and this is the story that has been hidden from our eyes for call accounting software system too long. This is the truth of call accounting software system the secret societies that we on call accounting software system the outside are supposedly too worldly to comprehend.
The Temple
So, let us now try our best to comprehend the Temple of call accounting software system Solomon and in call accounting software system doing so, let us walk upon Holy ground, trodden only by the initiated.
In the years of call accounting software system my own searching there were times when I would be found at the feet of call accounting software system the Magi, sitting and listening to the wise words of call accounting software system the Sufi, joining in call accounting software system the debate at some Freemasonic Lodge. All the time I was learning and viewing the process with an open ear and an open eye, and yet also balancing it all with the knowledge of call accounting software system modern day science and reductionism. Both worlds, the one of call accounting software system the esoteric and the one of call accounting software system science are useless apart – both are needed today if we are to truly understand and believe.
And so down to facts about the Temple of call accounting software system Solomon. Well, unfortunately we are sadly lacking in call accounting software system any archaeological evidence, regardless of call accounting software system what you read on call accounting software system some literal fundamentalist website. What we are told is that in call accounting software system the 10th century BC, the wise King Solomon erected a great Temple to the Lord. Unfortunately, if any of call accounting software system this is true, then we actually find that it was a Temple, which encompassed many pagan religions.
According to Professor James Pritchard in call accounting software system his book, Solomon and Sheba (1974, p.35):
“.. the so-called cities of call accounting software system Megiddo, Gezer and Hazor, and Jerusalem itself were in call accounting software system reality more like villages.. Within were relatively small public buildings and poorly constructed dwellings with clay floors. The objects reveal a material culture which, even by the standards of call accounting software system the ancient Near East, could not be judged sophisticated or luxurious.. The ‘magnificence’ of call accounting software system the age of call accounting software system Solomon is parochial and decidedly lackluster, but the first book of call accounting software system Kings implies exactly the opposite.”
In fact and in call accounting software system the bright light of call accounting software system day, what we actually have, and what most writers are afraid to say, is no evidence whatsoever for call accounting software system Solomon’s Temple. In fact, we have no evidence for call accounting software system Solomon, other than these peculiar Biblical texts. Neither do we have any evidence for call accounting software system the Queen of call accounting software system Sheba, or any of call accounting software system the other characters involved. Instead, there is more depth than could ever be imagined, more meaning than we would dare to believe.
John Michell in call accounting software system The Temple at Jerusalem: A Revelation, (Gothic Image) gives us an insight to the real meaning.:
“Legends of call accounting software system the Temple describe it as the instrument of call accounting software system a mystical, priestly science, a form of call accounting software system alchemy by which oppositely charged elements in call accounting software system the earth and atmosphere were brought together and ritually married. The product of call accounting software system their union was a spirit that blessed and sanctified the people of call accounting software system Israel.”
How right Michell is. The Temple is an instrument of call accounting software system mystical and priestly science or even magic. The secret unravels before our eyes the more we learn. You see the true Gnostic, the true disciple or perfect one, must be a man or woman of call accounting software system balance. He or she must unite the two sides of call accounting software system the mind, the male and female principles as they are called. We are all both male and female and the alchemists used this concept of call accounting software system balance and revealed it in call accounting software system their images of call accounting software system the Hermaphrodite, half man and half woman.
Solomon, was no real man, and Sheba was no real woman. Instead they were symbols of call accounting software system this internal and often external process. The whole story of call accounting software system Solomon, Sheba and the Temple, which is the perfectly formed body, both physical and spiritual, is the story of call accounting software system our own psyche. It is an esoteric truth, misunderstood in call accounting software system its exoteric form.
Hiram
Hiram was the son of call accounting software system a Jewish mother and a Phoenician father and is credited with the decoration of call accounting software system the Temple of call accounting software system Solomon. He was said to have been the “son of call accounting software system a widow of call accounting software system the tribe of call accounting software system Naphtali… He cast two bronze pillars” 1 Kings 7:13-15.
We must also note something of call accounting software system interest mentioned in call accounting software system 1 Kings 16:
“Then he made two capitals of call accounting software system cast bronze, to set on call accounting software system top of call accounting software system the pillars. The height of call accounting software system one capital was 5 cubits; and the height of call accounting software system the other capital was five cubits. He made a lattice network, with wreaths of call accounting software system chainwork, for call accounting software system the capitals which were on call accounting software system top of call accounting software system the pillars: seven chains for call accounting software system one capital and seven for call accounting software system the other capital.”
These pillars became known as Jachin, meaning “he establishes” and Boaz, which means “in him is strength” and these are now familiar to most modern Freemasons as central to their own Lodge or Temple. Copies of call accounting software system these can be clearly seen at the infamous Rosslyn Chapel as we shall discover.
But, what is interesting here is the original text about these pillars. Firstly bronze is used for call accounting software system the capitals, just as bronze is used for call accounting software system the “Brazen Serpent” of call accounting software system Moses and is indicative of call accounting software system the fiery aspect of call accounting software system the serpent as one of call accounting software system the channels in call accounting software system the Kundalini process. Their “heights” were 5 cubits, matching the five hooded cobras seen across India and atop many pillars, although the Bible calls them Lilies, which are symbols of call accounting software system balance anyway.
Leading up to these capitals then were “wreaths” of call accounting software system “chainwork”, seven on call accounting software system each pillar. Strangely these chains were “for the capitals,” and so we conclude that these seven levelled chains (coils) were pointing towards the head (capital) just as the serpents of call accounting software system the Kundalini do.
There are more real links between Hiram and the serpent. For instance, we noted above that he was of call accounting software system the Tribe of call accounting software system Naphtali. The standard of call accounting software system the Tribe of call accounting software system Naphtali, according to Jewish tradition, is a serpent or basilisk and this could have come from Egyptian origins, as Jewish tradition states that Naphtali was the brother of call accounting software system Joseph, chosen to represent the family to Pharaoh.
“And now I have sent a skillful man, endowed with understanding, Huram [Hiram] my master [father] craftsman, (the son of call accounting software system a woman of call accounting software system the daughters of call accounting software system Dan, and his father was a man of call accounting software system Tyre), skilled to work in call accounting software system gold and silver, bronze and iron, stone and wood, purple and blue, fine linen and crimson, and to make any engraving and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him, with your skilful men and with the skilful men of call accounting software system my lord David your father.” 2 Chronicles 2:13-14.
Here, Hiram is said to be a son of call accounting software system the Tribe of call accounting software system Dan and even the tribe of call accounting software system Dan had an emblem, which was amazingly also the serpent, this time with a horse.
Incredibly there is also a hidden truth and repetitive pattern in call accounting software system this little statement about the real skills of call accounting software system this literary character. Follow this pattern:
Hiram is skilled in:-
1 gold and silver,
2 bronze and iron,
3 stone and wood,
4 purple and blue,
5 fine linen and crimson,
6 and to make any engraving
7 and to accomplish any plan which may be given to him.
Note that there are seven ‘balanced’ elements to the skill of call accounting software system the man who will build the Temple! This is a real clue to the Temple’s secret indeed.
According to this book of call accounting software system Chronicles Hiram was a cunning man (a word used for call accounting software system the serpent) endued with understanding, skilful as we can see in call accounting software system the work of call accounting software system gold, silver, brass, stone and timber. But he was also credited with certain tools, which could pierce stone. Stone, as I show in call accounting software system Gnosis is symbolic of call accounting software system wisdom and foundation. Hiram’s tool therefore pierced the veil or even the very root of call accounting software system wisdom.
According to the book of call accounting software system Kings the Temple was built of call accounting software system stone (or wisdom) before it was brought to the site. Something like a prefabricated building. It was said by tradition that neither hammer nor axe, nor any tool of call accounting software system iron was used in call accounting software system the building. So how was it built? This in call accounting software system itself is a paradox, which can only be answered by the true secret of call accounting software system the Temple being revealed.
According to Rabbinical teaching the prefabrication of call accounting software system the Temple was performed by the Shamir, a giant worm or serpent that could cut stones (incidentally worm means serpent). Not dissimilar to Norse and Celtic beliefs where Valhalla and Camelot were built with the fire of call accounting software system the dragon and in call accounting software system China where building is aided by the serpent energy.
This is a universal concept as can be seen in call accounting software system India, where it was the serpentine linked Naga’s of call accounting software system fable who escaped their country and took the architectural wisdom abroad. The architect gods, such as Thoth of call accounting software system Egypt, are linked strongly with the serpent wisdom because they are linked with the building of call accounting software system “Temples of call accounting software system Wisdom” inside our SELVES.
The Shamir, according to one legend had even been placed in call accounting software system the hands of call accounting software system the Prince of call accounting software system the Sea (Shamir by Wilhelm Bacher & Ludwig Blau), which of call accounting software system course is symbolic of call accounting software system the Prince of call accounting software system Wisdom.
In essence what we really have here is the Temple of call accounting software system Wisdom being built by the serpent and that serpent is none other than that of, or similar to, the internal Kundalini, later to be developed into the Kabbalah. This is a psychological training manual; a method of call accounting software system self-improvement; a way for call accounting software system society to become One; a multi-layered method of call accounting software system getting closer to the deity which resides in call accounting software system each and everyone of call accounting software system us; a deity, that the ancients saw as being the same in call accounting software system each of call accounting software system us.
The whole process repeats again and again throughout the Bible. The Temple is reduced (like the alchemical method) and is remade. Then again and again, until finally the Christ is the Temple which is reduced (killed) and then rises again for call accounting software system the last time. And now, according to the texts, we can all meet with this Christ and we can all have the knowledge. We just need to understand that the true Christ is all and in call accounting software system all. But this hasn't worked has it. Man is still even now in call accounting software system the 21st century, searching for call accounting software system answers and so the temple is being reduced once again……
I say, we should all take a look at our own "temples" and knock them to the ground. We should then go about re-building them in call accounting software system a bigger and better way than before, just like the Bible states. And more than that, we must keep on call accounting software system doing this until this world of call accounting software system ours has peace and all truly are equal before God.
About the Author
Philip Gardineris the author of call accounting software system the best selling The Serpent Grail, The Shining Ones, and Gnosis: The Secret of call accounting software system Solomon’s Temple Revealed. He does talks, lectures, has his own radio show and does tours across the world via powerplaces.com www.powerplaces.com
Philip has a degree in call accounting software system marketing and 9 diplomas ranging from etymology to holistic medicine. He is hosting the Philip Gardiner’s Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK (FKCUK) in call accounting software system July 2006.
philipgardiner.net www.philipgardiner.net
gardinerosborn.com www.gardinerosborn.com