Victory

The Philosopher’s Stone hints at the soul’s connection with the universe:

In the alchemic tradition, the Three Prime Essentials made up the First Matter. This gave the universe its properties beyond time and space. As “prime awareness,” this First Matter couldn’t be created nor destroyed, only transmuted. Also known as “consciousness,” it remains single in essence but triple in form.

So the psyche has three fields that were once called the tria prima, or “the first three”. This was interpreted as the “three primes” or the “three principles” of the Philosopher’s Stone that still work potently to transmute base metals into gold. Sulphur, mercury and salt describe the sacred geometries of these psychological fields.

Indeed, our lower impulses of thought, emotion and instinct could be transmuted into the higher elements of truth, faith and trust. Once upon a time, the Ennead was used to reflect these archetypal forces of creation, all of which were seen in nature and applied to human affairs. This invited alchemists to recognise our nine-fold nature based on the human anatomy of the brain, heart and gut:

TRUTH-FAITH-TRUST
Rational Man

POWER-LOVE-PASSION
Romantic Man

THOUGHT-EMOTION-INSTINCT
Reflexive Man

Above: can you see three interlocking equilateral triangles?

Any potential for transformation occurs through awareness. When reading through each of the Nine, be honest, open and aware. Which do you still need to identify, accept and resolve? The awareness that all Nine exist within you, to be used at any time, means that you become a fully responsible co-creator, on Earth, now. At their height, this is how the Egyptians lived, creating an awakened civilisation from the basis of the 9/3 enneagram:

One day soon, you will use all of the Nine to regain consciousness. This is also how we are designed to operate: as a co-creative part of life here on Earth, understanding that we are each composed of the Nine. You come to “know thyself” by experiencing and becoming the Nine in physical form, with this journey leading into every facet of human and divine awareness so that you may activate your Merkaba.

Above: can you see how the nine opens the stargate of irregular pentagons?

This realisation of deeper layers of divinity was the basis of Egyptian civilisation at its height. This alchemy of life harmonised the rational, emotional and physical bodies to allow the full immersion of life into physicality. Below, we notice how the enneagram joins the nose, the sacred organ responsible for the breath of life:

Buddha’s revelations occurred beneath a fig tree—the Bodhi. In religious iconography, this tree is recognisable by its heart-shaped leaves which are prominently displayed. So this “tree of awakening” played a key role in the peace of Buddha. This was the state of bliss that blossomed from within due to conscious breathing.

Figs have a rejuvenating effect on the body and combat the aging process because they are rich in flavonoids, polyphenols and anthocyanins. These are also known for their powerful antioxidant effects in neutralising free radicals. Regular consumption improves memory, relieves sleep disorders and works wonders for anemia. Figs are also a strong immune stimulant and have been a favourite of doctors since at least 10,000 BCE.

These aphrodisiacs are also rich in copper and vitamin B6. Copper is a vital mineral that’s involved in energy production as well as the formation of blood cells, connective tissues and neurotransmitters. Figs also improve blood pressure and blood fat levels, which can help boost vascular health and decrease the risk of heart disease. As a “superfood” they have the highest mineral and fibre content of ALL common fruits, nuts and vegetables.

Figs are also symbolic of rebirth but more specifically the human uterus. In ancient Egypt, Ficus sycomorus was associated with the goddess Hathor whose face resembled a womb. The fig was also portrayed as the Egyptian Tree of Life and its timbers richly adorned the tombs of the pharaohs. Later, the fig was reborn in the Middle East within the hamsa—a symbol of the diaphragm that promoted the arrival of spirit within the body:

Figs are technically not fruit—they are actually inverted flowers. So fig trees don’t bloom like apple trees because they flower inside the pod which later matures. The result is a hard fruit called achene―which gives the fig the “crunch” we love. Certain types of fig are different sexes and require a special wasp to pollinate the females.

LIGHT-SPIRIT-SOUL
Religious Man

Here we return to our triangles and add the final trifecta above. This 9 + 3 format implies a 12-pointed star. In this case it has 12 vertices that can be drawn as FOUR interlocking equilateral triangles known as the dodecagram:

These triangles naturally form a square to which we can add a circle. Squaring the circle is a problem in geometry first solved by the Egyptians. It is the challenge of constructing a square with the area of a given circle by using only a finite number of steps. In this case, we rediscovered it simply by rotating an equilateral triangle:

So when the One (triangle) becomes Two (the circle and square), then we have life. This polarity is expressed when the man touches both the circle and square, indicating a balance between opposites: lunar and solar, chaos and cosmos, time and space. This shape above can be expanded below with a larger circle and square:

Above: the Crown of Thorns

Enlightenment by definition is the balance point between the personal and the universal. We acknowledge ourselves as the nexus of both. In the figure above, the man needs to be conscious of himself as the two that are really one. He is at once the inner and the outer—the Eye of Providence requires both to be fully Self-aware.

Above: the areas of the square and the circle equal  π

So the squared circle comes from the triangle: this is the hidden conceptual framework that allows this ancient paradox to be resolved. It makes both the circle and square irrational because π is a transcendental number. The triangle then, reminds us of the sacrum—the creative force of the universe that transcends time and space.

The microcosm and macrocosm refer to form of recursion that is present in many esoteric models of philosophy. Born in Egypt, this heka was not lost on Pythagoras, who saw the cosmos and the body as a harmonious unity. This idea of “as within, so without” was revived about a century later by Plato and again during the Renaissance by Da Vinci.

Vi veri veniversum vivus vici.