3899 – Alpha Omega Garden of Eden Diagram Tracing Board

Physical description:

Cream coloured card with an elaborate tree of life diagram. There is a red circular element with seven rings and twelve spokes. There is a black square encased in this, also with seven boxes decreasing in size. The square has four spokes in a Saltire shape. All rings, boxes and spokes lead to a centre point, the Qabalistic tree of life, which consists of ten circles joined together with horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines. The red ink is intensified in the central line of the focal shape. Holes where pins have been. On the back there is handwritten writing in black and rust coloured ink and some damage where the label has been removed (pictured).

Museum classification:

Ritual Magic

Size:

24cm x 30cm

Information:

These tracing board diagrams were most likely used as a way to test the knowledge of the members of the order of Alpha et Omega (initially called The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) and allow them to progress further up into higher levels (grades) in the order. It appears that some, if not all, of the boards were hung in the temple during rituals of the inner order. For example, this particular board diagram was shown to Associate Adeptus (a member of the First Order being tested to pass into the Second Order) who was supposed to explain the diagram to a member of a lesser grade in order to pass further. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

On the front, this object depicts the Garden of Eden as a series of layers with the Qabalistic tree of life in the middle. The central motif has ten circles that represent the ten divine emanations, the sefirot. The significance of the number seven in this diagram could refer to a number of things - the seven planets, the seven days of the creation of the world, the seven deadly sins and heavenly virtues and the superstition of 7 years of bad luck are all possible factors. On the reverse, it reads 'Grade of Theoricus: 32nd Path of ת (the significance of this Hebrew symbol in this context is unknown. This piece of text is underlined. Beneath this, it says 'Diagram of the Garden of Eden and the Holy City of the Apocolypse. This is in black ink. In rust coloured ink, it reads below '5.  First/Finish point. Hegemon. 2 (encircled) = 9 (inside a square) Grade.

 

The "2=9" inscription pertains to the structure and grading of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (also known as Alpha et Omega, or the A.O.).

The structure of the Golden Dawn:

First Order
Introduction—Neophyte 0=0
Zelator 1=10
Theoricus 2=9
Practicus 3=8
Philosophus 4=7
Intermediate—Portal Grade

Second Order
Adeptus Minor 5=6
Adeptus Major 6=5
Adeptus Exemptus 7=4

Third Order
Magister Templi 8=3
Magus 9=2
Ipsissimus 10=1

Alpha-Omega Collection

These items came from a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous.  She inherited them from Dorothy May Cox, who was probably a member of Alpha Omega, and perhaps a relative of Donald W. Cox, who was initiated into AO around 1920.

 

 

 

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Card and ink

Copyright ownership:

MWM

These tracing board diagrams were most likely used as a way to test the knowledge of the members of the order of Alpha et Omega (initially called The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) and allow them to progress further up into higher levels (grades) in the order. It appears that some, if not all, of the boards were hung in the temple during rituals of the inner order. For example, this particular board diagram was shown to Associate Adeptus (a member of the First Order being tested to pass into the Second Order) who was supposed to explain the diagram to a member of a lesser grade in order to pass further. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

On the front, this object depicts the Garden of Eden as a series of layers with the Qabalistic tree of life in the middle. The central motif has ten circles that represent the ten divine emanations, the sefirot. The significance of the number seven in this diagram could refer to a number of things - the seven planets, the seven days of the creation of the world, the seven deadly sins and heavenly virtues and the superstition of 7 years of bad luck are all possible factors. On the reverse, it reads 'Grade of Theoricus: 32nd Path of ת (the significance of this Hebrew symbol in this context is unknown. This piece of text is underlined. Beneath this, it says 'Diagram of the Garden of Eden and the Holy City of the Apocolypse. This is in black ink. In rust coloured ink, it reads below '5.  First/Finish point. Hegemon. 2 (encircled) = 9 (inside a square) Grade.

 

The "2=9" inscription pertains to the structure and grading of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (also known as Alpha et Omega, or the A.O.).

The structure of the Golden Dawn:

First Order
Introduction—Neophyte 0=0
Zelator 1=10
Theoricus 2=9
Practicus 3=8
Philosophus 4=7
Intermediate—Portal Grade

Second Order
Adeptus Minor 5=6
Adeptus Major 6=5
Adeptus Exemptus 7=4

Third Order
Magister Templi 8=3
Magus 9=2
Ipsissimus 10=1

Alpha-Omega Collection

These items came from a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous.  She inherited them from Dorothy May Cox, who was probably a member of Alpha Omega, and perhaps a relative of Donald W. Cox, who was initiated into AO around 1920.