Arcanum VIII is Justice, the Hebrew letter Heth, and the hieroglyph the FIELD. It is passive and it is here that the Conqueror turns his activity. This hieroglyph, I should mention, is referred to in Judges 5:18-20,which says in part, “Zebulon and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. The kings came and fought…they fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.” It was after this mighty battle that Judges 5:23 records, “Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” The meaning of the eighth Arcanum is deeper than meets the eye.
Mouni Sadhu says that behind the seated lady Themis are two columns with a canopy in between. Her head is crowned and wears a golden band and her eyes are covered by a band, which indicates impartiality. Her seated position denotes passivity, “something made and accomplished, and no longer acting.” This statement is interesting, for when we view photos of the statues of Justicia we always see her standing and active. Perhaps this passivity reflects the Deist view that God has set the world in motion with its laws, and he is no longer present acting upon this universe.
Mouni Sadhu says that this card is to be viewed as looking into a mirror. Therefore what we would normally say is the left hand, is in fact the right hand holding the balances. If we are looking into this card as a mirror, then the reflection is of us. Mouni Sadhu says, “There are three binaries in this card, all neutralized by third elements. The first binary consists of the two columns, neutralized by Themis in the ‘middle space’. The explanation here differs somewhat from previous ones: ‘If you see Jakin (right column) with Themis in the middle, then on the other side there must be Boaz’.” That is, “If you see that there is a force on one side, and recognize the existence of the astral vortex (tourbillon) to which the force seen also belongs, then you should anticipate the existence of a second force, balancing the whole construction, and directed to the opposite side…If there is JUSTICE (-minus) and the possibility of spiritual harmony (neutral), then there must also be the third element-GRACE or CHARITY(+active).” This leads to the idea of balance and law, and the law of cause and effect. The scales held in the hand of Themis forms another binary.
Mouni Sadhu asks, “Where does the magician use the fruits of his mental victory?” He answers that it is in the astral plane, by his astral operations, and here is where he needs to consider the Law of Balance. It is necessary that the magician must counterbalance his astral desire with one of non-desire which will be of equal magnitude. He adds that for this reason prayer for others in charity is more effective than prayer for ourselves.
Mouni Sadhu, in speaking about justice, says that “whether and in which way an occultist can allow himself to defeat or to overcome his neighbor” becomes an important question. If you are primarily concerned about the transgression committed by the neighbor, this astral cliché will create itself through the eighth Arcanum and the mental judgment will create the axis of the astral vortex. Therefore “the enlightened occultist has the right to judge the acts of others only in so far as he participates in the work of the Emanation of the Primary Cause. Briefly, only a true theurgist has the right to defeat another man. Theurgy itself presupposes a very great clarity of contemplation and purity of feelings, so that in accordance with the Law, we can very seldom defeat someone else.”
He adds, “The magic punishments which Christian Illuminism allows its adepts have a collective name-‘Reprobatio’ which literally means a kind of condemnation.” He list three types: a lack of recognition of a man’s actions, sorrow for his actions, and condemnation of them. Referring to the Bible he uses the illustration of Christ telling us to ‘shake off the dust from your feet’, declaring that it is’ better this man were not born’, and thirdly of Moses inflicting fiery death on his rebellious people. Mouni Sadhu also gives the example of the Master of the Knights Templar who was burned on the stake as cursing the Pope and the king to death. The historical record declares that his death curse was indeed effective.
Mouni Sadhu advises his students that they will have to “meditate deeply in order to fathom the secret that lies hidden in lawful reprobation. He gives the example of a father cursing his son when he has the support of only one arcana, the fourth, representing his authority. But the Law of Reprobation belongs to the eighth arcana which means it has to pass through the Sixth and the Seventh Arcanum. In this regard let us read through Romans 1:18 through 2:11, regarding the Law of Reprobation of persons who disregard not only the laws of God, and the person of God, but also the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)
Arcanum I: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Arcanum II: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
Arcanum III: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Arcanum IV: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Arcanum V: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Arcanum VI: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Arcanum VII: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Arcanum VIII: But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God: who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory and honor and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God.
MOUNI SADHU UNMASKED 