Friday, June 30, 2017

Sacred Geometry at the time of Jesus: Recent discoveries in Israel


Sacred Geometry at the time of Jesus:

Recent discoveries in Israel

I have written and presented often on the spiritual symbolism found in sacred geometry, a symbolism that is shared by spiritual philosophies through the ages and around the world.  (Sacred Geometry and Spiritual Symbolism: The Blueprint for Creation) Recent exciting discoveries of 1st century C.E. synagogue in the ancient city of Magdala, Israel have truly brought this concept full circle. The “find” at this site is remarkable and significant in further uniting this perennial philosophy.  Before I share it let me reaffirm some basic tenets in reference to sacred geometry to format the context.

Sacred geometry involves universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality, most often seen in sacred architecture and sacred art. The basic belief is that geometry and mathematical ratios, harmonics and proportion are also found in music, light, and cosmology.  This value system is seen as widespread even in prehistory, a cultural universal of the human condition.  They may be considered Universal Archetypes.  In the Hermetic tradition of; “As above so below”, reflecting each other in the Macrocosm and the microcosm. It reflects the fabric of the universe and the very fabric of ourselves.

Though the Edgar Cayce readings did not use the term “sacred geometry”; they describe the similar purpose of such symbolic patterns.

…for to begin from the first we have in that as has been given in the material plane, we have the counterpart, pattern or model through which all may be understood in the etheric or in the celestial, terrestrial plane –    TEXT OF READING 900-348 M 32

For the purpose of this article the related sacred geometry involved are the flower of life, the seed of life, the Vesica Pisces with the triangles created within it, and the six pointed star. (See below) Each of these symbols, in their fashion, represent an Axis Mundi; a representation joining together Heaven and Earth.  In the case of the Vesica Pisces (two overlapping circles) it is also seen as a womb of creation where spirit and matter come together.  Some may recognize this as the ICTHYS; the symbol for Jesus the Christ.  This is very apt as Jesus represented both the son of man and son of God, thus bringing Heaven and Earth together.  As these overlapping circles continue on and on they create more and more Vesica Pisces which are interlinked in the form of the 6-petaled lotus (seed of life). Then these “seeds “continue repeatedly into the flower of life, which then goes on ad infinitum uniting the finite within the infinite, weaving the united harmony of Heaven and Earth. Also illustrated are the two triangles, back to back or diamond shape that is created within each Vesica Pisces petal.  Then it can be seen by creating the triangles-diamond shape in the six-petal lotus, the six-pointed star or hexagram, also known as the Hebrew Star of David or Seal of Solomon is created.  In the Western tradition this is recognized as an important symbol of Judaism.  In the Eastern tradition of Hinduism this six-pointed star is known as the Shatkona and represents the Supreme Being joining with Mother Earth. The Cayce readings describe the meaning of the six-pointed star in a similar manner.

8. And just above this central figure indicate the nude form of the figure unfolding, but the symbol that is called the pyramid (and the inverted pyramid) over same. This would indicate spirit entering matter. TEXT OF READING 2390-6

Flower of Life

Seed of Life

Vesica Pisces (ICTHYS)
with triangles within it


six petal lotus/seed of life/vesica pisces



Six-pointed Star created within the seed of life





Now allow me to present the amazing find in Israel; the Magdala Stone and share its amazing significance. 







Depicted above is what is being called the Magdala table discovered during archeological excavations of a first century synagogue I referenced before in Israel. This table was found in the part of the temple that they considered would have been the “holy of holies”. Further excavations of the site unearthed a coin dated to 29 A.D. evidence of the time period of the synagogue.  A time period when Mary of Magdala or Jesus the Christ could have prayed in this very place of worship! 

The symbols carved on this table and their interpretation I found breath taking. 









The following are some excerpts of the archeologist’s interpretation of this limestone table itself and what it was designed to represent.

Ms. Talgam concluded that she was looking at a three-dimensional depiction of the Temple of Herod, including its most sacred inner sanctum, known as the Holy of Holies.[v]

This table represents Herod’s temple, which is the Hebrew Second Temple, the rebuilding of Solomon’s Temple, still standing in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus and Mary of Magdala.  The archeologist’s interpretation of this table makes the symbols on it that much more important.  The seed of life that dominates the top of the table is described this way:

Another fascinating symbol dominates the center of the top of the Magdala Stone: a six-petaled rosette. It is flanked by columns with palmette capitals, echoing ancient Jewish historian Josephus’s description of the area directly before the Holy of Holies. The rosette itself symbolizes the actual veil before the Holy of Holies. Josephus describes this veil as being decorated with flowers—perhaps with this very rosette.

Curiously, the rosette is a common Jewish motif found on ossuaries, sarcophagi and monumental tomb façades from the late Second Temple period to (70 BCE) the second century C.E. Considering this connection, one wonders if it signifies a passing through the “veil” of this life into the presence of God, just as passing through the veil into the Holy of Holies is an entry into God’s glory localized in the Temple. [vi]

What is being described here is a curtain of “Flowers of Life” in the temple that one would be passing through to enter into the “Holy of Holies” of bringing Heaven and Earth together in the present; exactly what these symbols represent around the world!

Then there are the symbols on the side of the Magdala table described as wheels (author note; yet looking like “seeds of life”) and triangles.

This brings us to the final symbol representing the deepest part of the Temple on the Magdala Stone: the Holy of Holies. Two wheels appear suspended in the air with triangular shapes underneath, representing fire (see image below). Early Jewish writings use this imagery to represent the heavenly realm. The wheels are interpreted as the bottom of the chariot, symbolizing God’s throne. The fiery chariot described in Ezekiel 1 and 10 gives credence to the symbol representing God’s presence dwelling both in the Temple and in the heavens.[vii]

This interpretation is reiterated by others:

On the side of the stone that Ms. Talgam believes represents the inner sanctum, the carvings suggest the lower portion of a chariot, with flashes of fire beneath its wheels — possibly illustrating the seat of God residing in the earthly Temple. The upper half, or God himself, she said, would have been in heaven.[viii]

Yes, the fiery chariot described by Ezekiel, in Hebrew this is called a Merkaba, translating as throne-chariot and as, noted here “a symbol representing God’s presence both in the temple and in the Heavens.”  This clearly echoes the concept and purpose of spiritual philosophies throughout the ages to bring Heaven and Earth together in ourselves, to raise our consciousness, to spiritualize ourselves while in materiality.  The Judaic Mystics understood this:

The Chariot (Merkabah) was thus a kind of 'mystic way' leading up to the final goal of the soul. Or, more precisely, it was the mystic 'instrument,' the vehicle by which one was carried direct into the 'halls' of the unseen. It was the aim of the mystic to be a 'Merkabah-rider,' so that he might be enabled, while still in the trammels of the flesh, to mount up to his spiritual Eldorado.[ix]

As Jesus pointed out, we ourselves are the earthly Temple and in knowing such, we can raise ourselves up to Heaven/God consciousness while still on Earth.

I hope you can see this Magdala table discovery and be both in awe and rejoicing at the same time as I am.  In awe that this incredible significant symbolic table was present at the time of Jesus, that Jesus may have actually been present and read the Torah on it. That Jesus, his disciples, and others would have understood the deep symbolism of this table as has been described here of uniting Heaven and Earth within oneself as the purpose and goal of humanity.  Then the rejoicing that this message is clearly perennial and can be found through the ages and the spiritual philosophies of all humanity, that we all share this spiritual goal and unity.    



[i] By Ori~ - Own work, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45755957
[ii] By Hanay - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23042839
[iii] By Hanay - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23042829
[iv] By Hanay - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23042828
[v] https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/middleeast/magdala-stone-israel-judaism.html?_r=0
[vi] http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-magdala-stone/
[vii] http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-magdala-stone/
[viii] https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/world/middleeast/magdala-stone-israel-judaism.html?_r=0
[ix] Jewish Mysticism by J. Abelson, London: G. Bell and Sons 1913 p.34,35