Memphis, in Egypt, was the builder of a new civilization, receiving its impetus from the immigration and settlement of a band of white magicians from Atlantis, under the leadership of Amrah, the prophet of the hierarchy to which Akaza was attached.
The Llama City on the banks of the Brahmaputra River, in the fastnesses of the Himalaya Mountains, in Thibet, where none of the modern races have penetrated, was the preserver of arcane wisdom; while Tlamco under Akaza, represented the section of the earth which was to be destroyed. Akaza was the hierophant of the triad, and Kadmon was the patriarch whose faithful followers were to carry the light to India.
“We shall represent Desire, Force and Energy by placing the cross over the circle,” said Akaza still illustrating with a fragment of burned camphor and the pointed caduceus.
What he drew was the present symbol of the planet Mars.
“Here we have spirit pushing on toward manifestation, producing Experience—the supreme teacher. The negative is over the positive, and this gives us both construction and destruction. Let us destroy it—place the cross under the circle—and we have a true symbol of Love. Spirit has forced its way through matter, and it has become one with itself.”
He turned to Yermah and took both his hands in his own. Looking at him earnestly, Akaza said:
“Never forget what I am saying to thee now. Until love has entered our hearts, we are not in touch with anything in nature. Love is the soul; and until we feel its sweet influences in our lives, we go on seeking fresh experiences on the cross of discord. Love produces harmony. Desire produces discord. The sun represents the planet which sheds these influences, and therefore stands for Power. This is the golden bowl, the essence of Life itself. The cross and the circle are the hieroglyphs of our spiritual nature.”
Akaza’s look became abstracted and intense, and he mechanically pushed his hair up from his forehead.
“I see by a glance into the future that these symbols will become the phallic emblems of sex-worship, which will touch the lowest rung of the downward spiral. Woman is destined to suffer much on this account, and from another event which is close at hand.”
“Thou hast made plain the creative phase,” said Yermah, after a pause, wishing to bring Akaza back to the subject in hand.