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
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