Question 284, regarding the Seven Keys of the Mystery Tongue. E. A. D.[1]

Μ. L. B.— What are the seven keys of interpretation to every symbol and allegory? (See S. D. II, page 25, note.)

  1. A. D.—The seven keys of interpretation of symbols and allegory belong to the mysteries of initiation, and they have never been generally known. Madame Blavatsky says in The Secret Doctrine, Vol. I., p. 330:

“The Seven Keys of the Mystery Tongue have always been in the keeping of the highest initiated Hierophants of antiquity; it is only the partial use of a few out of the seven which passed, through treason of some early Church Fathers—ex-initiates of the Temple—into the hands of the new sect of Nazarenes. It is maintained that India—not confined to its present limits but including its ancient boundaries—is the only country in the world which still has among its sons adepts who have the knowledge of all the seven sub-systems, and the key to the entire system. From the fall of Memphis, Egypt began to lose these keys one by one, and Chaldea had preserved only three in the days of Berosus. As for the Hebrews, in all their writings, they show no more than a thorough knowledge of the astronomical geometrical and numerical systems of symbolising the human and especially the physiological functions. They never had the higher keys.”

          The Hebrews may be said, however to have had some knowledge of the key of interpretation. We know that there are historical, ethical, theological and scientific interpretations of symbology; but merely to know the names of the keys is not to possess them.

An example of one method of applying the scientific key of interpretation is given by Mr. Marsham Adams in his book, The House of the Hidden Places. He applies geometry, astronomy and numbers to the interpretation of the symbolism of the Great Pyramid with some very wonderful results.

Question 285, regarding the age of Stonehenge. A. A. C.

  1. H. F.—The Story of Atlantis states that Stonehenge was built by the Akkadians about 200,000 years ago. Is it not physical fact that in a climate such as Englands a few thousand years would suffice for its complete disintegration by the elements, to say nothing about the vast period claimed for its antiquity? Recent investigations by antiquarians place the origin of Stonehenge at about 1700 b. c.
    1. A. C.—No, I do not think it is a physical fact that a few thousand years would suffice for the disintegration of the stones forming Stonehenge. All geological evidence points the other way. There are plenty of natural rocks in Great Britain which are of enormous antiquity, and which, even when exposed to conditions of erosion much more severe than those prevailing at Stonehenge, do not evidence the decay suggested. Besides it has not been suggested that Stonehenge has been exposed to atmospheric erosion during all the 200,000 years of its history. As for antiquarian opinion—the Flinders Petrie of the Wiltshire plane has not yet manifested himself—we used to be told that Egyptian civilization was of a similar date!

[1] The Theosophic Messenger 7, no. 7 (April 1906), page 108. [Extracted by Robert Hutwohl ©2024]