3893 – Alpha Omega Tracing Board Diagram Analysed Latin Words

Physical description:
Cream coloured card with black and red ink writing. Holes where pins have been. On the back is more handwritten writing and a typed label.
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. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

 

The text on the front side reads:

Diagram of the analysed Latin words.

VISITA INTERIORA TERRAE
RECTIFICANDO INVENIES
OCCULTAM LAPIDEM VIVAM
MEDIUNAM

VITRIOLUM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
             
V I T R I O L
             
S U L P H U R
             
M E R C U R Y

 

SUBTILUS AQUA LUX TERRAE
S A L T
FLATUS IGNIS AQUA TERRAE

F. I. A. T. 

 

There are also elemental triangles drawn in red ink, which represent air, fire, water, and earth. 

 

This particular board diagram is explained in a handwritten manuscript (object 3921) as shown below.

 

The text on the reverse reads:

13. West '

Portal of:
5=6

Executed and presented by Y. H. Frater "Fide et Amore" Oct 4th 1908.

 

And a typed label stuck on the reverse which reads:

 

Israel Regardie, in the book The Golden Dawn (vol. I) describes sulphur, mercury, and salt as the names of the Three Principles of Nature. 

"Portal of: 5=6" 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.) 5=6 being the Adeptus Minor rank of the Second Order. 

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. See the Alpha Omega tag for more tracing board diagrams. 

 

The text on the front side reads:

Diagram of the analysed Latin words.

VISITA INTERIORA TERRAE
RECTIFICANDO INVENIES
OCCULTAM LAPIDEM VIVAM
MEDIUNAM

VITRIOLUM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
             
V I T R I O L
             
S U L P H U R
             
M E R C U R Y

 

SUBTILUS AQUA LUX TERRAE
S A L T
FLATUS IGNIS AQUA TERRAE

F. I. A. T. 

 

There are also elemental triangles drawn in red ink, which represent air, fire, water, and earth. 

 

This particular board diagram is explained in a handwritten manuscript (object 3921) as shown below.

 

The text on the reverse reads:

13. West '

Portal of:
5=6

Executed and presented by Y. H. Frater "Fide et Amore" Oct 4th 1908.

 

And a typed label stuck on the reverse which reads:

 

Israel Regardie, in the book The Golden Dawn (vol. I) describes sulphur, mercury, and salt as the names of the Three Principles of Nature. 

"Portal of: 5=6" 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.) 5=6 being the Adeptus Minor rank of the Second Order. 

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.