The Cube of Space

by Michael Freedman S.G

We, in the Society of Guardians, use the Cube of Space, but I understand from friends who have done the BOTA (Builders of the Adytum) lessons, in a much more complex way than it is taught there, at least in their books and elementary lessons.

The Guardians have a tradition of working extensively with Sacred Geometry.

We have a model built that consists of two large Tetrahedra moving through each other. At that point where they are in perfect equilibrium, their eight [two times four] apexes are the apexes of a cube. A tetrahedron and a cube are both perfect solids.

The model is built of rods, such as are used by science teachers to construct molecular models.

Each of the two large Tetrahedra are constructed from four smaller Tetrahedra. Because the model is skeletal, it is easy to see that at the center of each Tetrahedron is another perfect solid, the octahedron. When the two large Tetrahedra are in balance through each each other, their Octahedra are exactly superimposed so that there is one octahedron at heart of each tetrahedron and also at the heart of the Cube. Esoterically, this is a 3-dimensional version of the hexagram, which is formed from two triangles moving through each other until they are in perfect equilibrium, representing the upward aspiration of Humankind towards the Divine, met and balanced by the Divine reaching down towards Humankind.

There are six Trees of Life in Weavers' Woods in which the hexagram is found, all referred to Sefiroth of the central pillar in various worlds

If you look along any of the diagonals of the model described above, and mentally flatten it all out, so that it looks like a two-dimensional diagram, it is possible to see it as a six pointed star standing within a six pointed star. This symbol also appears on the Cap worn in our Rituals by the Senior Guardian. It is a symbol of the Sun beyond the Sun.

Apprentices are expected to conduct thought experiments assigning various sets of correspondences within the 36 degrees to the various faces, apexes, edges, diagonals, triangles, directions, etc that are perceptible within the model.

A couple of hours mentally limbering up on the Star Tetrahedron, which is the name of the whole construction, is the equivalent of a morning's work at the barre by a ballet dancer, IMO.

I have just realized that I referred to the 36 degrees in the above message, and no one will know what I mean.

It is similar to the 32 Paths used in many lodges, but the number of each "degree" is always in tune with the number of the Sefirah or Hebrew letter corresponding to it. Briefly:

1st Kether
36th........Air........Rafael........East

which are how the elements fall, reading anticlockwise on the points of the Pentagram of Opening to the Spirit in our pentagram rites system.

Read clockwise, the five points of this Pentagram give the order of the elemental tides around the 24 hours of the day, beginning at dawn when the air tide peaks.

Using Above for Spirit and Below for Earth, you can readily assign these directions to a Tetrahedron,
with one face to the East.

2nd Chokmah
3rd Binah
4th Gedulah
5th Gevurah
6th Tifareth
7th Netsach
8th Hodh
9th Yesodh
10th Malkuth/'Alef
11th Beyth
12th Gimel
13th Daleth
14th Heh
15th Wav
16th Zayin
17th Cheyth
18th Teyth
19th Yodh
20th Kaf
21st Lamedh
22nd Meyim
23rd Nun
24th Samek
25th Ayin
26th Peh
27th Tsaddi
28th Qof
29th Reysh
30th Shin
31st Tav
32nd Kaf final
33rd Meyim final
34th Nun final
35th Peh final
36th Tsaddi final

The 37th degree is referred to both Great 'Alef and Kether of a succeeding world, and so on, ad infinitum.

The five finals are referred thus:

32nd......Spirit......Yahuel......Centre or Above [Metatron]
33rd.......Earth......Uriel.........West or below [Sundalfon]
34th.......Water.....Mikael......South [s.h.] North [n.hemisphere]
35th........Fire.......Gavriel......North [s.h.] south [n.hemisphere]

which are how the elements fall, reading anticlockwise on the points of the Pentagram of Opening to the Spirit in our pentagram rites system. Read clockwise, the five points of this Pentagram give the order of the elemental tides around the 24 hours of the day, beginning at dawn when the air tide peaks. Using Above for Spirit and Below for Earth, you can readily assign these directions to a Tetrahedron, with one face to the East.

Note: The Society of Guardians attribute Michael to Water and North (Northern Hemisphere) and place Uriel and Earth in the West, Gabriel and Fire in the North and Raphael in the East for Air. Traditional Golden Dawn and other Magic orders would have Michael Related to Fire and in the North, with Water in the West, Earth in the South, and Air in the East.