“Let us concern ourselves with the mind, whose dual phases are shown by the half-circle. If we place the cross over the half-circle we have the Tempter of humanity, because this exalts matter over mind. It is the great centralizing of self. “Every one must pass these limitations and meet the Great Judge,” the hierophant continued, “and He, in the heavens, guards Himself with triple rings. No spirit goes through the Gates of Light into His presence except he be well weighed in the balance of the seventh sign.” “This is the same as initiation into the Brotherhood,” returned Yermah, involuntarily. “It is the planetary aspect of the labor thou art soon to perform.” Akaza did not wish to go more into detail; so he hastened to say: “If we place the half-circle over the cross, we have mind risen over matter, and compassion is the result. Then we have learned the value of mercy. The true spirit of devotion comes from the belted planet. It abuses none who are struggling upward, but lends a helping hand to all.” Seeing that Akaza laid down the caduceus and drew the horoscope closer to him, Yermah said: “Thou hast given the symbol of only six planets. Hast thou forgotten the seventh?” “No. That planet is made up of three factors combined; the circle is in the center; the cross, below; and the half-circle, above. This is the essence of wisdom. It is perfected manhood, and it flies through the cosmos in search of the Infinite, whose messenger it is.” Uranus and Neptune are octaves of Mercury and Venus, and belong to the spiritual triad, Saturn being the first. “Tell me of the duality of the spirit, soul and body?” asked Yermah, for the first time making it plain that he was thinking over what had been told him during the day. “Spirit pure and simple is the Word which was in the Beginning. This has three phases, motion and breath being the other two. The Ineffable moved, breathed and spoke and the created universe, with all it contains, was the result.” He spoke with caution, lest he should usurp divine power. “In mankind, it is quite impossible to define or describe that subtle thing which is denoted by the word ‘spirituality,’” he continued, “the goal toward which so many efforts, such fervent aspirations are directed. Spirituality is something which differs from all these, an essence strange and deep, not expressible in other terms than itself—beyond mind, beyond thought, and, consequently, beyond speech. In the ardor of our present pursuit, we forget the fact that the spiritual can be used for evil no less than for good purposes. By failure to discriminate between the spiritual in the service of the divine and the same quality in the service of the dark powers, we may find ourselves at a point where, to regain the true path, we must with pain and agony retrace our steps and begin again.” “And the soul?”