Ezekiel

A Look at the Symbolism &

What Kabbalists, Theosophists, Freemasons
And The Ancient Mystery Teachings
Say About It

And

Why It Has Absolutely Nothing to Do with UFOs

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022

cr@iphemeris.com
 Why this Paper?

The increasingly prevalent urban myth that the fiery wheel in the sky described in the 1st Chapter of
Ezekiel is an example of a UFO sighting has become a pet peeve of mine. It has been a staple of the
Ancient Aliens and Christian Ufology programs for years. But now, one increasingly hears it mentioned in
the mainstream news by Bible Belt Congressman being interviewed about Congressional hearings on
UFOs or the Navy’s acknowledgement that it experiences frequent UAP/UFO incursions into the air
space around Navy ships.

As someone with some understanding of classical spiritual texts, Kabbala, and astrology, I find this
theory somewhat amusing and also moderately annoying. Aliens may have been here for thousands of
years, but Ezekiel is definitely not proof of it. It is a spiritual teaching which uses symbol and allegory to
instruct, and this article will explain why it has absolutely nothing to do with UFOs, and hopefully dispel
some of the nonsense around this subject.

The “UFO” interpretation of the fiery wheel in the 1st Chapter of Ezekiel and the fact that it has gotten
any credence, has always seemed more a consequence of several factors, including:

• Christian ignorance of the Hebraic understanding and Kabbalistic origins of many Old Testament
works.
• Christian bigotry that discourages any study of, or reference to the Jewish, Kabbalistic
understanding of Jewish works. This is rather odd considering that Hebraic Scholars presumably
know a thing or two about the texts they have studied for the last 5000 years!
• Western ignorance of esoteric symbolism. An ignorance largely encouraged and created by the
“church fathers” over the past centuries through modification of texts, removing or declaring off
limit’s others, and eliminating from the “authorized” literature the keys necessary to a proper
understanding of what they didn’t destroy or remove.

Fortunately, the advances of the last 100 years, particularly the internet, have opened up access to vast
amounts of information and knowledge enabling researchers to access ancient texts in their original
form and which would have been off limits and locked out of reach in the Vatican Library and other such
institutions even only 100 years ago. Case in point the Nag Hammadi and Dead Sea Scrolls. However, the
damage to western collective understanding persists in the form of a collective blind spot that has no
idea it has been deceived, and which has been conditioned to avoid precisely the areas it needs to fully
understand such works.

Also, at times, the imposition of UFOs onto the Book of Ezekiel seems like a Rorschach test, revealing
more about the preoccupation of the mind interpreting it, than it does about the actual meaning of the
work.

The UFO associations with Ezekiel have been compounded by the many TV shows that have turned
Christian Ufology and Ancient Aliens into a cottage industry. The writers and producers know they are

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 2 cr@iphemeris.com

shoveling nonsense and simply don’t care because they are selling to a marketplace that doesn’t know
better. And they do us all a disservice by adding to the confusion and misunderstanding.

Therefore, this author, knowing somewhat of the symbolism through years of relevant study thought to
do something constructive and shine a little light into the subject. Because what Ezekiel is about, is far
more interesting and spiritually illuminating than what it is not about.

From the point of light within the Mind of God

Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth!

The Problems With

Literal Interpretations of Spiritual Texts

Before addressing specific elements in Ezekiel, it is necessary to examine the symbolic and allegorical
nature of most ancient spiritual writings, and why it is often not correct to interpret them literally.

It should be understood that every spiritual tradition, mystery school and system of initiation, without
exception, uses symbolism and allegory as a means of communicating and imparting spiritual teaching.
For example, Freemasonry (this author has been one for nearly 40 years) is quite open and explicit about
the fact that it uses symbolism and allegory and refers to itself as “A peculiar system of morality, veiled
in allegory and illustrated by symbols”. If one wishes to understand what Freemasonry is teaching, then
it is necessary to first understand the system of symbols it uses and not impose one’s own upon it.
Something, by the way, which one can only do by being initiated into Masonry and getting trained in its
symbolism, which more than a few non-mason writers writing about Masonry seem to overlook!

All systems of spiritual teaching, which this author has encountered, use symbol and allegory for
essentially the same reasons:

• To present aspects of reality and consciousness for which there are literally no words or lower
mind concepts. Symbol and allegory are the only means of communicating what is experienced
and encountered in higher states of awareness and serve as gateways, enabling
consciousnesses that are suitably advanced to access those realms.
• As a means of veiling or hiding spiritual truths that are considered too dangerous for the
unready or improperly trained. For example, the premature awakening of kundalini can cause
insanity, illness and even death in one who is psychologically and physically unprepared. The
yogic science of the etheric centers (chakras) is one of the most closely guarded, and even
today I know of one Teacher who writes about the centers but tells students not to collect
everything he wrote about them in one place. And there are other occult sciences that can be
misused by the unprincipled to do immeasurable harm to others.
• Symbols are also useful because they can be used to convey multiple levels of Teaching. It is
said by some advanced, initiated teachers that they can use them to communicate up to seven
different meanings in a single symbolic allegory and which will communicate something
different to the reader depending on their development. In other words, they can use them to
hide deep spiritual teachings in plain sight.

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 3 cr@iphemeris.com

Ezekiel, being an ancient spiritual text over 2500 years old is no exception. It is full of symbol and
allegory designed to communicate what Ezekiel perceived in his high moment of revelation and
realization. And the section beginning in Chapter 40 pertaining to the dimensions for constructing his
“Temple” is an early form of Masonic Allegory conveying information about the spiritual realms, “the
inner spiritual temple, not made with hands” and the higher subtle bodies or vehicles of consciousness
which is only useful to someone who is properly trained and ready.

This mode of teaching presents an insoluble problem to those not trained in the understanding of such
symbols, and they will tend to materialize the interpretations and interpret the text in terms of their
own worldview. It is not correct to do so. If one wishes to understand what the teaching is actually
about, then one must study the system of symbols that the author or Teacher used and not superimpose
one’s own world view. The analogy is that if someone wishes to properly understand a math or
chemistry formula or a bit of computer code, they must first train themselves in the meaning of the
symbols as they are used in that system. Otherwise, one is simply making it up and the interpretation is
useless to anyone attempting to understand the actual meaning of the teaching as intended by the
author. And it might be mentioned here that Zechariah Sitchin’s interpretations of Genesis and other
Biblical stories suffer from the same problem, but Sitchin is a subject for another paper.

This paper will focus on illustrating that the use of much of the symbolism in Ezekiel has a basis in even
older texts and is simply a recasting of various earlier writings into a Hebrew story and not at all what
Christian Ufologists are superimposing onto it. They have not studied the system of symbols Ezekiel
used, or worse ignored them, and instead are interpreting the work in ways never intended. They are of
course free to do so, but such works are not useful to anyone else attempting to understand Ezekiel or
its lessons.

If you doubt this author’s assertions on the allegorical and symbolic nature of most ancient religious
texts, then please consider what one of the greatest Western Yogi’s and scholar of the Ancient
Mysteries said about the use of allegory and symbolism in all old texts. She wrote this in her two volume
set, Isis Unveiled1:

The allegory of Job, which has been already cited, if correctly understood, will give the key to the
whole matter of the Devil, his nature and office; and will substantiate our declarations. Let no pious
individual take exception to this designation of allegory. Myth was the favorite and universal method
of Teaching in archaic times. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, declared that the entire story of
Moses and the Israelites was typical; and in his Epistle to the Galatians, asserted that the whole
story of Abraham, his two wives, and their sons was an allegory. Indeed, it is a theory amounting to
certitude, that the historical books of the Old Testament were of the same character. We take no
extraordinary liberty with the Book of the Job when we give it the same designation which Paul gave
the stories of Abraham and Moses.

But we ought, perhaps, to explain the ancient use of allegory and symbology. The truth in the former
was left to be deduced the symbol expressed some abstract quality of the Deity, which the laity could
easily apprehend. Its higher sense terminated there; and it was employed by the multitude
thenceforth as an image to be employed in idolatrous rites. But the allegory was reserved for the
inner sanctuary, when only the elect were admitted. Hence the rejoinder of Jesus when his
disciples interrogated him because he spoke to the multitude in parables. “To you,” said he “it is
given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever
hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” In the minor Mysteries a sow was

1
Isis Unveiled by HP Blavatsky. Page 493 - 494

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 4 cr@iphemeris.com

 washed to typify the purification of the neophyte; as her return to the mire indicated the superficial
nature of the work that had been accomplished.

“The Mythus is the undisclosed thought of the soul. The characteristic trait of the myth is to convert
reflection into history (a historical form). As in the epos, so in the myth, the historical element
predominates. Facts (external events) often constitute the basis of the myth, and with these, religious
ideas are interwoven.”

The whole allegory of Job is an open book to him who understands the picture-language of Egypt as
it is recorded in the Book of the Dead. In the Scene of Judgement, Osiris is represented sitting on his
throne, holding in one hand the symbol of life, “the hook of attraction,” and in the other mystic
Bacchic fan. Before him are the sons of God, the forty-two assessors of the dead. An altar is
immediately before the throne, covered with gifts and surmounted with the sacred lotus-flower, upon
which stand four spirits. By the entrance stands the soul about to be judged, whom Thmei, the genius
of Truth, is welcoming to this conclusion of the probation. Thoth holding a reed, makes a record of
the proceedings in the Book of Life. Horus and Anubis, standing by the scales, inspect the weight
which determines whether the heart of the deceased balances the symbol of truth, or the latter
preponderates. On a pedestal sits a bitch – the symbol of the Accuser.

Initiation into the Mysteries, as every intelligent person knows, was a dramatic representation of the
scenes in the underworld. Such was the allegory of Job.

Several critics have attributed the authorship of this book to Moses. But it is older than
the Pentateuch. Jehovah is not mentioned in the poem itself; and if the name occurs in the prologue,
the fact mute be attributed to either an error of the translators, or the premeditation exacted by the
later necessity to transform polytheism into a monotheistic religion. The plan adopted was the very
simple one of attributing the many names of the Elohim (gods) to a single god. …

The Book of Job is a complete representation of ancient initiation, and the trials which generally
precede this grandest of all ceremonies. The neophyte perceives himself deprived of everything he
valued and afflicted with foul disease. His wife appeals to him to adore God and die; there was no
more hope for him. Three friends appear on the scene by mutual appointment: Eliphaz, the learned
Temanite full of the knowledge “which wise men have told from their fathers – to whom alone the
earth was given”; Bilad, the conservative, taking matters as they come, and judging Job to have
done wickedly, because he was afflicted; and Zhophar, intelligent and skillful with “generalities”
but not interiorly wise. Job boldly responds: “If I have erred, it is a matter with myself. You magnify
yourselves and plead against me in my reproach; but it is God who has overthrown me. Why do you
persecute me and are not satisfied with my flesh thus wasted away? But I know that my Champion
live, and that at a coming day he will stand for me in the earth; and though, together with my skin,
all this beneath is shall be destroyed, yet without my flesh I shall see God . . . Ye shall say: ‘Why do
we molest him?’ for the root of the matter is found in me!”

This passage, like all the others in which the faintest allusions could be found to a “Champion”,
“Deliverer”, or “Vindicator”, was interpreted into a direct reference to the Messiah; but apart from
the fact that in the Septuagint this verse is translated:

“For I know that He is eternal

Who is about to deliver me on earth,
To restore this skin of mine which endures these things,” etc.

In the King James version, as it stands translated, it has no resemblance whatsoever to the original.
The crafty translators have rendered it, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” etc. And yet

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 5 cr@iphemeris.com

 the Septuagent, Vulgate, and Hebrew originals, have all to be considered as an inspired Word of
God…..

The Universal
System of Symbols

After sufficient and prolonged study of eastern and western spiritual texts, one discovers that all
mystery schools and systems of initiation use a universal system of symbol and allegory because they all
attempt to lead people through the same graded expansions of consciousness or initiations. These
expansions of consciousness are universal and admit one to higher and subtler forms of consciousness.
And, because all true mystery schools are inwardly linked and affiliated with the One Great Mystery
School which is overseen by the World Teacher.

The last point is difficult to prove except that as one actually enters and then moves inward in any of the
various schools or systems, one discovers that the schools themselves say they are inwardly affiliated
and linked to others around the world. The proof of this is the commonality of the symbolism used and
the understanding of their meanings. This a point that practitioners eventually come to understand.

The following Is a statement by the Tibetan Master and Teacher, Djwahl Khul, relative to that inner
school and the system of symbols it uses2:

We now come to the consideration of the secrets committed at the initiation ceremony to the
initiate…

After the administration of the oath which pledges the initiate to inviolable secrecy, the newly made
initiate advances alone closer to the Hierophant… who reveals to him knowledge concerning the
various types of force or energy by which the solar system is animated, and which reach him via a
particular etheric center…

… These seven secrets are simply short formulas, not of mantric value, such as in the case of the
Sacred Word, but of a mathematical nature, precisely worded so as to convey the exact intent of the
speaker. To the uninitiated they would look and sound like algebraical formulas, except that each is
composed (when seen clairvoyantly) of an oval of a specific hue, according to the secret imparted,
containing five peculiar hieroglyphics or symbols. One symbol contains the formula of the law
concerned, another gives the planetary key and tone, a third deals with vibration, whilst the fourth
shows the number and department under which the ray concerned falls. The last hieroglyph gives
one of the seven hierarchical keys by means of which the members of our planetary hierarchy can
link up with the solar. This is evidently very vague and ambiguous information, but it will serve to
show that, as in the case of the Words, apprehension had to involve two senses, so in the cognition of
the secrets the two senses again come Into play, and the secret is both heard and appears
symbolically to the inner eye.

It will now be apparent why so much stress is laid upon the study of symbols, and why students are
urged to ponder and meditate upon the cosmic and systemic signs. It prepares them for the grasp
and inner retention of the symbols and formulas which embody the knowledge whereby they can
eventually work. These formulas are based upon nine symbols which are now recognized: —

1. The cross in its varying forms.

2
Initiation, Human & Solar by Alice A Bailey. Page 164-165

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 6 cr@iphemeris.com

 2. The lotus.
3. The triangle.
4. The cube.
5. The sphere and the point.
6. Eight animal forms, the goat, the bull, the elephant, the man, the dragon, the bear, the lion,
and the dog.
7. The line.
8. Certain signs of the Zodiac, hence the need for the study of astrology.
9. The cup, or the holy grail.

All these symbols allied, interwoven, or taken in part, are combined to express one or other of the
seven Secrets. The initiate has to recognize them by sight as well as to hear them, and by an effort
of the will to imprint them irrevocably upon his memory.

In the above relatively short quote, one finds in essence the purpose for, and general classification of
the different categories of symbols. One can in another sense group them into the following major
categories:

• Number, Vibration, Sound, Color, Numerology

• Astrology
• Geometric and animal symbols
Because these symbols are used in and emanate from the One Great Inner Mystery School that stands
behind all the outer organizations found around the world, they find their way into all the world’s
literature that issued forth from these schools via their various Teachers. Anyone who trains themselves
in this system of symbols, instantly recognizes them when encountered, and this is true for the most
part, across languages and cultures and over relatively large periods of time, with some caveats
pertaining to the changing symbols associated with the Astrological Ages and the animal symbols used
by various cultures to represent astrological signs.

The Catholic Catechism

The Problem It Created In Western Culture

Many western interpreters of spiritual texts Don’t know that they don’t know. The “Church Fathers”
have put serious obstacles in the way of a proper understanding through centuries of censorship,
persecution, and removal and editing of texts. And whilst many of these hurdles are now falling, we are
still severely handicapped by the cultural hangover of the Christian ideology which permeates our
society far more than one tends to realize. This is compounded by the relatively materialistic view of our
modern sciences and which, although on the right track, are themselves born in the poisoned climate of
thought created by the Church over the last 2000 years.

What is meant by this? Well consider that to this day the official Canon of the Catholic church still states
the following:

The official Catechism of the Catholic Church maintains that divination, including predictive
astrology, is incompatible with modern Catholic beliefs such as free will: All forms of divination are
to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely
supposed to “unveil” the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 7 cr@iphemeris.com

 omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for
power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to
conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God
alone.3

The point is that many in the West are not entirely at fault and have been conditioned to regard
astrology and numerology and even other religious systems, at best as nonsensical and at worst evil.
Consequently, the majority of westerners are totally unfamiliar with and untrained in the necessary
sciences (and they are sciences) and even fearfully avoid them. They simply don’t know what they don’t
know. Many have not learned to think in these terms or along these lines and consideration of subjects
like reincarnation, astrology, numerology, chakras, meditation, chi, acupuncture, subtle bodies, etc.,
never enters their mind and are considered fringy. Yet these were the everyday “scientific” facts of
many past cultures which were foundational to our present day culture!

Therefore, the typical western person is at a serious disadvantage when seeking to interpret any
spiritual text written by someone who was trained in these systems and who used its symbols and wrote
in a time when it was expected that the reader would also know them! And so, what happens? Well,
they simply project an entirely unrelated and inappropriate world view onto the text and impose
whatever their current paradigm is upon it.

Now it probably needs to be mentioned that the reason the various esoteric subjects mentioned above
are asserted to be sciences, is that because like all sciences, they are subject to having their results
reproduced by the experimenter who is willing to follow the instructions for doing so carefully, and
which can often take years of hard work in meditation and various other disciplines.

Ezekiel Chapter 1
From the English Standard Version4

Let us now examine the first chapter of Ezekiel, a favorite of Ancient Aliens and Christian Ufology
proponents. It will be helpful to have it on hand for the subsequent discussion:

1 In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles
by the Chebar canal, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

2 On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), 3 the word of
the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar
canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness
around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.

5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance:
they had a human likeness, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.

7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they
sparkled like burnished bronze.

3
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_astrology
4
https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/ezekiel/1.html

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 8 cr@iphemeris.com

 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their
wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without
turning as they went.

10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on
the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

11 Such were their faces. …

15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures,
one for each of the four of them.

16 As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the
gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it
were a wheel within a wheel.

17 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went.

18 And their rims were tall and awesome, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.

19 And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures
rose from the earth, the wheels rose.

20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of
the living creatures was in the wheels.

21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those rose from the
earth, the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22 Over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-
inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.

23 And under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another. And each
creature had two wings covering its body.

24 And when they went, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, like the
sound of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army. When they stood still, they let
down their wings.

25 And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let
down their wings.

26 And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like
sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.

27 And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the
appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I
saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.

28 Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of
the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And
when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 9 cr@iphemeris.com

 Ezekiel
An Outline of the Major Elements

The rest of this paper will address in sequence the following major elements of the text as it is
understood by various religious, esoteric and scholarly traditions:

• Ezekiel is a Jewish text (Old Testament, pre-Christian), and was written in Old Hebrew by the
Hebrew prophet Ezekiel while living in exile in Babylon (Iraq) 593-563 BC. Old Hebrew presents
certain translation issues.
• Ezekiel is a Kabbalistic text according to Rabbinical scholars and therefore is written using
numerological, astrological and other kabbalistic symbolism. These scholars have stated for
thousands of years that it can only be understood symbolically! This is particularly true of the
visions of the four beasts in Chapter 1, and the section concerning the construction of the 3rd
Temple, beginning in Chapter 40. Ezekiel is one of the principle works studied by the Merkabah
(Merkavah) school of Jewish mysticism (Kabbala) during the period 100 BC – 1000 AD.
Merkavah means chariot or vehicle as in the Chariot of God. Merkabah practitioners studied
texts describing visions of God and ascents to heavenly places. It should be noted that ascent is
understood in the spiritual sense as an uplifting of the consciousness into spiritual heights and
not literally via a craft.
• In Ezekiel’s vision in the 1st Chapter (the one Ufology likes to claim), students of Astrology and
Kabbala recognize the four astrological signs of the Fixed Cross: Aquarius, Leo, Taurus,
Aquila/Scorpio being assigned to the four directions North, South, East and West.
• Theosophist (Blavatsky and Bailey) as well as students of various mystery traditions and other
Eastern Traditions recognize the four beasts of the Fixed Cross assigned to the four directions as
relating to the Four Lords of Karma and which have various names including:
o The Four Kumaras – Hindu traditions.
o The Four Recording Angels – Biblical texts: Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, Uriel.
o The Four Sons of Horus – Egyptian mythology.
o Ardhanarishvara & Four Great Maharajas – Brahmanical texts (Upanishads).
o The Four Great Lords – Tibetan Buddhism.
o The Four Great Kings – Chinese texts Pre and Post Buddhist.
o The Four Dwarves – Norse Mythology.
o The Four Holy Beasts – Vietnamese mythology.
o The Four Stags – Norse Mythology.
• Ezekiel’s vision is, in part, said to be a prophecy of “God’s damnation” of Israel for past errors
and therefore Karma is an element of the story. This is important and relates to the association
of the creatures of the four faces in 1:10 with the Four Lords of Karma in various esoteric
traditions.
• Other elements in Ezekiel’s 1st Chapter including the wheels in wheels and many eyes can be
found in Revelations 4:5-8, and in other religious traditions of India, Tibet and China. This
suggests these works are drawing upon the teachings and traditions of earlier systems and/or

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 relate to certain universal truths as they have appeared to the perceiving consciousnesses of
anyone ascending to similar heights, through the ages and regardless of culture.
• Freemasons and Kabbalists study Ezekiel’s vision of the Temple, starting in Chapter 40, as a
Masonic and Kabbalistic allegory relating to the building of the “Spiritual Temple not made with
hands”. They understand it numerologically and symbolically as pertaining to the construction
of the highest aspect of the spiritual bodies of man, known in Theosophical circles as the
Spiritual Triad or Tri-Kaya. It pertains to the highest regions of consciousness and being, which
can only be accessed via Triadal Consciousness and where God’s will and power can be known.
This region is known as Shamballa in esoteric and eastern traditions. It should also be
understood in this context that in the various mystery schools the subtle bodies are understood
as vehicles of consciousness.
We will now consider each of these points in turn.

Translation Issues
Old Testament / Old Hebrew

Ezekiel was written in Old Hebrew and due to its age, there is disagreement amongst biblical and
Hebrew scholars on the meaning of certain words. For example, in Ezekiel 1:16 we find the word beryl
which in some translations is translated as chrysolite. A stone said to have been one of the 12 stones in
the breast plate of the “High Priest” and which are understood to symbolize the 12 tribes of the Jews,
the 12 signs of the Zodiac as well as 12 groups or Hierarchies of Angelic lives associated with the 12
constellations. In ancient times they did not have sophisticated means of knowing if a stone was one
particular mineral or another and generally referred to all stones of similar look and color by the same
name. At present date it is not clear to which color or mineral beryl refers to. If it was Chrysolite then
that has a range of colors including yellow, green, pink and blue. In Ezekiel most of the colors in the
vision are referred to as being like some stone or other and present day Hebrew scholars are not clear
which color is being referred to.

This illustrates that for Old Testament works, it is important to have translators who are thoroughly
trained in Old Hebrew, as well as the history and traditions. This was not the case for the King James
version of the Bible, commissioned in 1604 and finished in 1611 and many others. That translation was
heavily influenced by the Church of England’s ecclesiastical and political views5 and only had four
translators that understood Hebrew, three of whom died before the translation was complete6.
Therefore, this particular translation or any other based on it, cannot be trusted where word or
contextual accuracy of Old Testament works is important.

In Ezekiel we encounter the need for knowledgeable translators most significantly with respect to the
vision of the four beasts in 1:10. Old Hebrew has no specific words for the four directions: North, South,
East and West. In that language the words for front, back, left and right can also mean East, West, North
and South depending on the context. They assigned the primary direction to the East, the direction of
the rising Sun and the direction one faced to pray. And so East is front with the other directions relative
to the East facing person and therefore to the right of the East facing person is South and to their left is
North, with the West behind or to their rear7.

5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version
6
The Royal Masonic Cyclopedia of History, Rites, Symbolism And Biography.
7
https://www.thejoshlink.com/article80.htm

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In Ezekiel this is important, and the translator would need to understand this and translate it or
interpret it properly because Ezekiel is essentially assigning the four faces of the four beasts to the four
directions. Some biblical translations do this, others do not but nevertheless that was the implied
meaning in Ezekiel where:

• Qedem – Front or East – the Face of the Man.

• Negev – Right or South – The face of the Lion.
• Tsafon – Left or North – The face of the Ox.
• Yam – Rear or West – The face of the Eagle.

This is significant because there are many other religious traditions that assign the same four beasts
to the four directions. We will look at those later, but it is right here that one encounters the problem
with unfamiliar Christian literalists attempting to interpret the vision or using a poor translation. To
someone using a correct translation or with knowledge of Old Hebrew practices and who also has
knowledge of Astrology, the symbolism is immediately apparent. Whereas anyone else has no hope of a
proper understanding.

Ezekiel Is A Kabbalistic Text

Incorporating Kabbalistic Symbolism

Ezekiel is essentially a Kabbalistic and allegorical work designed to instruct students into the mysteries of
initiation and what is perceived in higher states of consciousness. It therefore, uses numerological,
astrological and the other forms of symbol and allegory to instruct.

It is dealing with the perception of something that is utterly beyond us in the nature of its being and
consciousness. Deity is so much more than any limited conception which the human mind can
formulate, and one can only represent a fraction of what has been perceived using a symbolic
representation. Deity includes all realms and levels of consciousness, and the use of symbols has the
advantage that they can be interpreted on multiple levels and according to the abilities of the student
studying them.

For over 1000 years this was exactly how the Merkavah school of Kabbalists (100 BC – 1000 AD)
approached Ezekiel and other such works8. Merkavah or Merkabah means chariot or vehicle, or body of
God and this school focused on texts concerning ascents to heavenly states of consciousness and visions
of the Throne of God.

Therefore, any sincere student of these works is utterly remiss to not consult the Kabbalists. Here is
what they say about their text:

The narrative in Ezekiel speaks in physical terms about a completely spiritual reality. It is
impossible to interpret any part of this description in a literal way, as it is only an allegory for
metaphysical concepts. In fact, according to Avodat HaKodesh this is exactly what transpired in

8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkabah_mysticism

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 Ezekiel’s vision: he was shown images of the physical, while understanding the G-dly ideas to which
they corresponded.

This style is replicated in most Kabbalistic works, where much of the teachings are also taught via
physical metaphor. The sages throughout the ages warned that the student of Kabbalah must
“divest the words from their physicality” and be knowledgeable enough to do so.9

And there in the last sentence, one finds clearly stated the main premise of this paper. Such works are
allegorical, symbolic and any literal interpretation based on insufficient training and understanding is
doomed to failure.

In days of old, to ensure that students were sufficiently learned before approaching such works, there
was a Talmudic prohibition against studying any Merkabah texts, including Ezekiel, before attaining to
sufficient maturity of years and spiritual experience. Even today this practice is still enforced by Hebraic
scholars and this author (although not Jewish) seeking to make such a Kabbalistic study whilst at
university, was required by a devout Jewish Professor, to make certain preparatory studies before being
allowed to approach the more properly Kabbalistic works:

The Talmudic interdictions concerning Kabbala speculation are numerous and widely held.
Discussions concerning the Kabbala were limited to only the most worthy sages, and admonitory
legends are preserved about the dangers of overzealous speculation concerning the Kabbala.

For example, the secret doctrines might not be discussed in public: “Seek not out the things that are
too hard for thee, neither search the things that are above thy strength. But what is commanded thee,
think thereupon with reverence; for it is not needful for thee to see with thine eyes the things that are
in secret.” It must be studied only by exemplary scholars…. 10

The Kabbalist understands that it requires much learned and spiritual understanding as well as spiritual
maturity to properly approach such works. And when neophytes attempt such, we end up with the
results produced by the Christian Ufologist’s using uniformed literalism further exacerbated by the
limitations placed upon their educational understanding by a Christian Catechism which forbids
numerology, astrology, and various other subjects required for a properly informed understanding of
the work.

One could almost stop here and toss upon the fires all such literalist interpretations on the basis of the
above. It should be increasingly clear that attempts to project onto Ezekiel anything material such as
spaceships or even chariots are doomed. Ezekiel is speaking in the universal language of mystical and
occult symbols; exactly what Hebrew scholars have said about their text for thousands of years.

Common
Symbolic Elements

Continuing with the analysis, one finds in Chapter 1:10 and 1:18, symbols which are immediately
recognizable to students of esoteric and astrological symbolism. These are:

• The 4 creatures of the astrological Fixed Cross: Man (Aquarius), Lion (Leo), Ox (Taurus), Eagle
(Aquila/Scorpio).

9
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4036882/jewish/The-Vision-of-Ezekiel.htm
10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkabah_mysticism#Prohibition_against_study

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 • Facing the four directions: East, West, North and South.
• Wheels with many eyes.

Anyone sufficiently trained in astrology immediately recognizes the four animals of the Fixed Cross, with
the caveat that astrologers not versed in its deeper and historical aspects, may not recognize the Eagle
as Scorpio. Scorpio has historically been associated with the Scorpion, the Snake, the Eagle and the
Phoenix. There are several reasons for this:

• First, the constellation of Scorpio and Aquila (the constellation of the Eagle) are in the same
section of Longitude in the sky, but with Aquila being higher in latitude (or over) Scorpio, but
still the same region calendrically. By calendrically we mean that when the sun is said to be in
the constellation of Scorpio, as viewed along the line of the ecliptic or suns path through the
zodiac, it can also be said to be in Aquila because Aquila is above Scorpio (higher in the sky).
• Second, in esoteric astrology Aquila is considered the higher correspondence of Scorpio or
pertaining to the higher cosmic octave in consciousness to that symbolized by Scorpio.
The same four creatures, as well as the many eyes, are also found in the book of Revelations 4:5-8 in
that author’s (said to be John of Patmos) vison of the Throne of God:

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, and voices, and thunders … and in the midst of the
throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures, full of eyes before and behind. And
the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third
living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an
eagle flying. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round about and within
they are full of eyes.

The fact that two entirely different books of the Bible written 600 years apart, one Old and one New
Testament, use the same symbolism and imagery for the Throne of God suggests that they are not the
isolated vision of some individual, but are in fact referencing an older, more widely understood system
of symbolic teaching that can be found elsewhere. And this is exactly what will be shown later in this
paper.

The next significant, symbolic element which should be observed is that these four animals are assigned
to the four directions: East, West, North and South. This is something that students familiar with various
Hindus and Chinese religious systems will recognize.

And one finds other symbols common to both Ezekiel and Revelations. The many eyes in Ezekiel 1:18 –
“…the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.” And then in Revelations 4:6 – “… four living creatures
full of eyes…”. Also, in both and with respect to the Throne of God, we find: The rainbow aura of The
Lord; a Sapphire Throne; a crystalline threshold. All of which we will meet again in what is said to be the
most ancient text in the world, the Stanzas of Dzyan.

Astrological Symbolism

It is relatively easy to show that the Bible and Christianity have make extensive use of the universal language
of astrology. To recognize it, one must be familiar with the astronomical element of the Precession of
the Equinoxes. This is actually something taught in most mystery schools as part of the Astrology

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curriculum and is assumed to be understood. See the referenced Wikipedia article for an excellent
explanation of the astronomical details11.

Briefly, because of the wobble of the Earth’s polar axis, the point in the sky behind the Sun at the time of
the Spring Equinox and along the line of the zodiac known as the ecliptic, moves (or precesses) 1° every
72 years (approximately). And because the 360° of the sky is divided into 12 zodiac sections of 30° each
it takes approximately 2155 years to precess through one astrological sign. This precession creates what
is known as the Astrological Ages. We have been in the Age of Pisces for the last 2000 years and the Sun,
at the time of the Spring Equinox, is now moving into the sign of Aquarius. The Tibetan teacher Djwhal
Khul (whose calculations I trust implicitly) calculates that it will enter Aquarius in 2117. Hence the
reference to the fact that we are entering the Age of Aquarius.

These Ages are known and used by all Mystery Schools and World Teachers and govern the keynote and
symbolism of the various religions and spiritual teaching systems which emerge over the centuries and
millennia. This astrological fact is not well known in the West because as earlier mentioned astrology
was declared off limits and “forbidden” to us, but it was well understood by ancient cultures and most
Mystery Schools, even to this day in the East and West. And Lord Krishna tells us precisely this, and why:

Whenever there is a withering of the law ... and an uprising of lawlessness on all sides, then I
manifest Myself. For the salvation of the righteous and the destruction of such as do evil; for the
firm establishing of the law, I come to birth in age after age.12

Here are a few examples of how the various symbolism of the Astrological Ages is represented in various
religious traditions:

11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_precession
12
The Bhagavad Gita, Translated by Charles Johnston, IV.7, 8.

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Pisces Symbolism
For example, consider all the Piscean “Fish” symbolism found in Christianity. The fish symbol was used
by the early disciples of the faith in the 1st century to signify they were following the Teaching of the
new Piscean age. Jesus who was born a Lamb of God (Aries), became a Fisher of Men (Pisces). Christ fed
the multitudes with Two Fishes and 5 loaves of bread. He taught his disciples to be “Fishers of men” and
counseled them that it was better to “teach a man to fish and feed him for life, than to give him one and
feed him for a day” And after the resurrection he cooked a meal of Fish for his disciples to prove it was
he! Said in other words, he was the Teacher for the Piscean Age who came to teach them the lessons of
Pisces.

Consider the image above. It is of a mosaic found on the floor of the Hammat Synagogue in Palestine (circa
250 AD). Note the Christ like image of Helios the Sun God in the center. The central ray of light emanating
from his crown points to the boundary between Aries the Ram and Pisces (the two fish), indicating they were
aware that the Sun had now moved into the beginning of the sign.

Also, consider the symbol for Aquarius of the man carrying a pitcher of water and pouring it forth, symbolic
of the spiritual keynote for Aquarius: “waters of life, poured forth for thirsty men” and then consider the
statement of Jesus at the Last Supper:

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 Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him
into the house that he enters – Luke 22:10

It is interesting that he made this statement at the Last Supper which was also the Passover feast. There
are many symbolic overlays here. Passover celebrates the exodus out of Egypt (a land that worshipped
the Bull in the Age of Taurus) into the promised land of Moses and the Age of Aries the Ram. Jesus,
during a Passover dinner, just before he is about to be crucified and pass over into the afterlife at the
moment of another pass-over from the Age of Aries into the new Age of Pisces and the Christian era,
instructs his disciples to (after they have sufficiently advanced into the kingdom of heaven, the city) to
look to a future time at another Pass-over into the Age of Aquarius (2000 years later; present day)
signified by the Man carrying a pitcher of water!

Taurus Symbolism
The Minoan religion and the worship of the Bull arose during the Age of Taurus, approximately 4000 BC
to 2000 BC. The religious evidence of that age is found all through Asia, the Mediterranean and the
Mideast where one finds the Hindu, Brahmanical and Egyptian worship of the Bull.

And in the story of Moses coming down off the mountain with the tablets, one finds symbolized the
transition from the Age of Taurus into the Age of Aries. There we see him coming down to his people
with the new “Law” or teaching for that Age, symbolized by the tablets and containing the Law for the
Age of Aries. When he finds that they have reverted to worshipping the Golden Calf, the symbol of the
previous age of Taurus, he smashes the tablets in rage. It is an allegorical teaching using astrological
symbolism.

Aries Symbolism
The Age of Aries is the Age of Shepherds or those who tend to herds of sheep and Rams. One finds
another story of the Exodus of the Jews out of Egypt during the transition from Taurus to Aries. This is
told in the Torah in the story of Joseph and the Hyksos Pharaohs of Egypt (said to most likely have been
the Jews) or Shepherd Priests and who were thrown out of Egypt because they no longer worshipped
the state religion of the Bull. One translation of Genesis 46:33 gives us this:

And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your religion? You
shall say, “Thy servants’ religion has been to venerate the Apis bull (Taurus) from our youth even
until now, both we, and also our fathers” … for every Hyksos Shepherd (venerator of Aries) is an
abomination unto the Egyptians.

The Rams horn, a symbol of Aries is prominent in Judaism but also in many other Mediterranean
cultures. For example, Alexander the Great and Ptolemy III both wore a sort of crown with Rams horns in
the hair signifying they were Kings of the great Age of Aries or Shepherd Kings (statues of which
occasional get misinterpreted by Christians to be references to “the devil”). Comical, but typical. One
can see such statues in the Louvre.

We can also find an allusion to the transition from the Age of Taurus to the Age of Aries in the story of
Gilgamesh who killed the Bulls of Heaven and the Greco Roman Mithraic tradition which has Mithra
slaying the bull.

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 The Same Symbolism
Found In Eastern Esoteric and Religious Systems

Let us now consider that these symbols have been drawn from earlier eastern sources which very likely
informed and inspired the Jewish and early Christian teachings. The most probable line of influence
(over the course of perhaps 25-30,000 years) was Hindu and Brahmanical influences from India, thence
to Chaldean and Zoroastrian into Egyptian influences, which went out of Egypt to Palestine during the
Exodus.

This is the route suggested by H.P. Blavatsky and who amassed literally thousands of pages of
comparative religious proofs of such (as well as the long history of Humanity) in Isis Unveiled and The
Secret Doctrine. Both are published by the Theosophical Publishing house and available in print and
online today. Whilst these works do not accord with “modern day” archeological views, the academics
are continually being pushed back into line with that suggested by HP Blavatsky. The discoveries at
Göbekli Tepe13 and Gunung Padang14 are a few of the most recent examples, as well as the works of
Michael Cremo (Forbidden Archeology), Robert Schoch, Jim Viera, Hancock, and Bauval all of which
show example after example of archeological finds that accord with and support Blavatsky’s statements.

Blavatsky gives her proofs by pointing to the many, many religious and literary works of Asia citing the
anti-diluvian civilization and culture, and then showing that the fact that culture after culture repeats
the same myths, and uses the same symbols is not a coincidence.

With respect to Ezekiel, she points out that the elements of the vision in Chapter 1 can be found in most
Asian religions going well back into the dawn (as the west thinks of it) of Indian and Chinese civilization.
She mentions that most Asian countries have some religious tradition with a Square Temple oriented
East, West, North & South and with these same four animals placed in the four directions.

Consider this quote from Isis Unveiled15:

The Hindu kabalistic derivation of the books of Ezekiel and Revelation are shown in nothing more
plainly than in this description of the four beasts, which typify the four elementary kingdoms —
earth, air, fire, and water. As is well known, they are the Assyrian sphinxes, but these figures are
also carved on the walls of nearly every Hindu pagoda.

The author of the Revelation copies faithfully in his text (see chap. Iv., verse 7) the Pythagorean
pentacle, of which Levi’s admirable sketch is reproduced on page 452.

The Hindu goddess Adanari (or as it might be more properly written, Adonari, since the second
a is pronounced almost like the English o) is represented as surrounded by the same figures. It fits
exactly Ezekiel’s “wheel of the Adonai,” known as “the Cherub of Jeheskiel,” and indicates, beyond
question, the source from which the Hebrew seer drew his allegories. For convenience of
comparison we have placed the figure in the pentacle. (See page 453.)

13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe
14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunung_Padang_Megalithic_Site
15
Isis Unveiled, Vol. 2 by HP Blavatsky. Page 451.

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 Above these beasts were the angels or spirits, divided in two groups: the Igili, or celestial beings,
and the Am-anaki, or terrestrial spirits, the giants, children of Anak, of whom the spies complained
to Moses.

But was this idea original with the Hebrews? We think not. Every nation which had an astronomical
system, and especially India, held the cross in the highest reverence, for it was the geometrical basis
of the religious symbolism of their avatars; the manifestation of the Deity, or of the Creator in his
creature MAN; of God in humanity and humanity in God, as spirits. The oldest monuments of
Chaldea, Persia, and India disclose the double or eight-pointed cross. This symbol, which very
naturally is found, like every other geometrical figure in nature, in plants as well as in the
snowflakes, has led Dr. Lundy, in his super-Christian mysticism, to name such cruciform flowers as
form an eight-pointed star by the junction of the two crosses — “the Prophetic Star of the
Incarnation, which joined heaven and earth, God and man together.” The latter sentence is
perfectly expressed; only, the old 19abbalist axiom, “as above, so below,” answers still better, as it
discloses to us the same God for all humanity, not alone for the handful of Christians. It is
the Mundane cross of Heaven repeated on earth by plants and dual man: the physical man
superseding the “spiritual,” at the junction-point of which stands the mythical Libra-Hermes-Enoch.
The gesture of one hand pointing to Heaven, is bala“ced by the other po”nting down to the earth;
boundless generations below, boundless regenerations above; the visible but the manifestation of the
invisible; the man of dust abandoned to dust, the man of spirit reborn in spirit; thus it is finite
humanity which is the Son of the Infinite God. Abba — the Father; Amoria — the Mother; the Son,
the Universe. This primitive triad is repeated in all the theogonies. Adam Kadmon, Hermes, Enoch,
Osiris, Christna, Ormazd, or Christos are all one. They stand as Metatrons between body and soul
— eternal spirits which redeem flesh by the regeneration of flesh below, and soul by the
regeneration above, where humanity walks once more with God.

Blavatsky points out elsewhere, (in the Secret Doctrine) the similarity between the Hebrew word Adonai,
which means My Lord, and the Hindu word Adanari, as being indicative of the fact that the Jews
emigrated out of India at some distant point in the past and still retained elements of the name of the
deity in their earlier religious system which they had practiced, Adanari or Ardhanarishvara. She gives
many other examples of Hindu and Sanskrit origins for Hebrew words clearly suggesting a common
heritage.

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Note the similarity of symbolism in some of the Hindu depictions of Ardhanarishvara16:

In these images we find several of the astrological elements also found in Ezekiel’s wheel. The
Male/Female human (Aquarius) symbolic of the soul and divinity which is both male and female, the
Lion of Leo and the Calf or Bull of Taurus, only the symbol for Scorpio is missing.

She goes on to discuss the even deeper symbolic meanings of these as being symbolic references to the
last three Races of human evolution. The 3rd Race of Lemuria (Hermaphrodite), 4th Race of Atlantis (Cow)
and the 5th Race of the present age (Leo); this is beyond the scope of this paper.

Similar Symbolism
In Ancient Chinese Religious Systems

We can find further proof of the ancient and universal nature of the symbolism in Ezekiel, in much older
ancient Chinese traditions which pre-date Taoism, and go back nearly 7400 years to 5300 BC!

In the Chinese systems the sky is divided into 4 quadrants presided over by Four Great Lords or Four
Guardians or Four Auspicious Beast and which are also assigned to the four directions, north, south, east
and west. These were called: The Azure Dragon (East), The Vermillion Bird (South), The White Tiger, and
the Black Tortoise. Taoism latter assigned human identities to these four: Meng Zhang, Ling Guang, Jian
Bing and Zhi Ming respectively17.

16
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardhanarishvara
17
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Symbols#:~:text=These%20four%20creatures%20are%20also,Warrior%22)%
20of%20the%20North.

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Astrologically the center of these four quadrants are the same four astrological symbols found in
Ezekiel’s wheel18:

The Azure Dragon (Spring) / East – Scorpio

Vermillion Bird (Summer) / South (Summer) – Cancer
White Tiger (Fall) / West – Taurus
The Black Tortoise (Winter) / North – Aquarius

What is even more interesting about this particular system is that whenever it was created, it was so
long ago that the Spring Equinox was considered to be in Virgo opposite where it is now. At present date
the Spring equinox occurs at the start of the sign Aries (a point opposite the Virgo/Libra cusp) and which
by precession of the equinoxes indicates a time over 14,000 years ago!

From the above one sees that many, many cultures and religious systems have used essentially the same
symbolism of attributing four deities to the four directions and also the four signs of the Fixed Cross of
the Zodiac.

Wheels With Many Eyes

And The Sapphire Throne

One encounters two of the symbols found in Ezekiel and also in Revelations in other traditions.

• A wheel with many eyes.

• A Sapphire Throne of the Lord above a crystalline threshold or sphere.
In Tibetan Buddhism one often finds the depiction of exalted deities with many arms having eyes in the
palms of the hands. These are typically arrayed around the deity in a wheel like pattern. Consider this
example of the Thousand Armed Avalokitesvara (Lord of Compassion) on the next page.

If one examines the eyes, one sees they are vertical eyes, not horizontal. This is the same type of eye
typically shown as the third eye in many other deity images. The verticality is designed to signify the all
seeing eye of the soul, and which is non-dualistic, neither left nor right, and therefore vertical. It signifies
a consciousness that is beyond the dualism of the mind. It signifies a consciousness that has transcended
the dualistic, lower rational mind and is beyond gender, time or space and it knows itself as one with all.

Often in such depictions one also finds multiple heads of primary colors signifying that the deity is so
exalted that it has united within itself all three aspects of: Life, Consciousness and Form, and can express
itself simultaneously in all three. The more heads and arms, the more “cosmic” or exalted is the deity19.

Cosmic deities are beings such as the Lord of the World, or God. Beings within whom we are said to live
and move and have our being. Beings of which we and our consciousness are a part. This is the reason
for the many arms with eyes found in images of these deities. They signify the fact that they are a
central life, within whom exist the consciousnesses of many awakened beings. Beings analogous to the
many individual cells or lives in a body. The eyes are depicted as at the center of a hand because each
conscious soul is effectively an instrument for the working out of the plans of the lord. They are a hands

18
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_constellations
19
Deity Yoga by The Dalai Lama and Jeffrey Hopkins. Images of Enlightenment by Jonathan Landaw

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of the Lord, so to speak, and which can do his bidding and work in the world according to the deities
intent.

The same idea is communicated in Ezekiel and Revelations by the wheels with many eyes in the rims. It
signifies that during the revelation, the authors realized this fact and the oneness of their consciousness
with the Lord. I am that am I. Not my will but thine be done.

The Sapphire throne is found in other traditions but perhaps the most beautiful is from an ancient
esoteric catechism that was given to entrants of the mystery schools long ago. They had to memorize
this and study it as a guide to their future progress.

It comes from the Archives of the Masters and is said to have been used in various mystery schools the
world over back to the time of Atlantis.

AN ESOTERIC CATECHISM20

The following are some words from Archive XIII of the Masters’ Records, that carry with them a
message for the struggler on the Way. They are somewhat on the line of an old catechism, and used
to be recited by the participants in the lesser mysteries before they passed on into the greater.

What seest thou, O Pilgrim? Lift up thine eyes and tell what thou beholdest.

I see a ladder, mounting within the vault of blue, its feet lost sight of in the mists and fogs that circle
round our planet.

20
Initiation Human & Solar by Alice Bailey. Page 209

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 Where standest thou, O Pilgrim? On what are placed thy feet?

I stand upon a portion of the ladder, the fourth division well nigh mounted; its latter part stretches
before me into the darkness of a stormy night. Beyond that sphere of utter gloom I see the ladder
rise again, radiant and glowing in its fifth division.

What marks those portions which you thus describe as separated from another part? Do not all form
but one completed ladder of clearly marked proportions

Always a gap appeareth to the eye, which (when approached more closely) resolveth then itself into
a Cross, by which one mounteth to the next division.

What causeth then the Cross? How mount you by its aid?

The Cross is formed by aspirations, instilled by Godlike urge, which cut athwart the lower world
desires, implanted by the life developed from below.

Explain more clearly what you mean, and how that Cross becomes the Way.

The arms that form the Cross become the great dividing line, placed twixt the lower and the
higher. Upon those arms the hands are nailed, the hands that grasp and hold, ministering to the
lower needs, trained thus through many aeons. Lo, when the hands are helpless held, and cannot
grasp and hold, the inner life slips from its sheath, mounting the limb upright. It passeth from the
lower fourth, and the Cross doth bridge the gap.

Pass they with ease that mount that limb, and leave the fourth behind?

They pass through tears, through clouds and mists they suffer and they die. They bid adieu to all
earth’s friends; they mount the way alone they bridge the gap with loving deeds done in the pain of
living; they lift one hand aloft to Him who standeth just above; they lean one downward to the man
who standeth next below. The hands, freed from the transverse arms, are freed but to be held. Only
the empty nail-marked hands can keep the chain complete.

Where ends the ladder’s length? What point of gloom is pierced by it and where projects its end?

It cuts the crystallising sphere with all its myriad forms; it pierces through the watery plane,
washed by the swirling tides; it passes through the nethermost hell, down into densest maya, and
ends within the latent fire, the molten lake of fiercest burning, touching the denizens of fire, the
Agnichaitans of the scarlet heat.

Where mounts the ladder’s length? Where is its consummation?

It mounteth through the radiant spheres, through all their six divisions. It riseth to the mighty
Seat within the final fifth, and passeth from that mighty Seat to yet another greater.

Who sits upon that mighty Seat within the final fifth?

He with the Name we mention not, save in utter adoration; the Youth of Endless Summers, the
Light of Life itself, the Wondrous One, the Ancient One, Lord of Venusian Love, the great
Kumara with the Flaming Sword, the peace of all the Earth.

Sits He alone, this Wondrous One, upon His sapphire throne?

He sits alone, yet close upon the rainbow steps there stand three other Lords, garnering the
product of Their work and sacrificing all Their gain to aid the Lord of Love.

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 Are They assisted in Their work? Do other Ones of greater powers than ours stand too upon the
ladder?

These mighty Four, Action and Love, in wise co-operation work with Their brothers of a lesser
grade, the three Great Lords We know.

Who aid these mighty Lords Who carry on Their work, linking the lower with the higher?

The Brothers of Logoic Love in all Their many grades. They stay within the final fifth till it
absorbeth all the fourth.

Where mounts the ladder then?

To the greatest Lord of all, before Whom e’en that Ancient One bends in obeisance low; before
Whose throne of effulgent light Angels of highest rank, Masters and Lords of uttermost compassion,
prostrate Themselves and humbly bend, awaiting the Word to rise.

When sounds that Word and what transpires when it echoes through the spheres?

That Word sounds not till all is done, until the Lord of endless love deemeth the work correct. He
uttereth then a lesser Word that vibrateth through the scheme. The greater Lord of cosmic Love,
hearing the circling sound, addeth completion to the chord, and breatheth forth the whole.

What will be seen, O Pilgrim on the Way, when sounds that final chord?

The music of the endless spheres, the merging of the seven; the end of tears, of sin, of strife, the
shattering of forms; the finish of the ladder, the blending in the All, completion of the circling
spheres and their entry into peace.

What part, O Pilgrim on the Way. Play you within this scheme? How will you enter into
peace? How stand before your Lord?

I play my part with stern resolve, with earnest aspiration; I look above, I help below; I dream not,
nor I rest; I toil; I serve; I reap; I pray; I am the Cross; I am the Way; I tread upon the work I do; I
mount upon my slain self; I kill desire, and I strive, forgetting all reward. I forego peace; I forfeit
rest, and in the stress of pain I lose myself and find Myself and enter into peace.

Chapter 40
Ezekiel’s Temple

It is beyond the scope of this paper to do an in depth analysis of Chapter 40, but we will mention that
this chapter is studied by Kabbalists and Master Masons (Freemasons) as a numerological allegory for
the building of a subjective, spiritual temple, a temple not made with hands but built in consciousness
and being.

It is not a plan for an actual building but rather a numerological key to the spiritual states of the more
exalted states of consciousness. The numerological nature of it, like the Book of Numbers, is the clue to
it its Kabbalistic nature (Hebraic numerology) and it is in that light that it must be studies and
understood.

In order to understand Chapter 40, one must understand the Kabbalistic numerological system (which
has its origins in the Chaldean and Egyptian mysteries) and make a careful study of all the numbers given

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 24 cr@iphemeris.com

for the various dimensions and alignments. For example, many of the dimensions are based on the
Egyptian unit of measure called the rod and which is 6 cubits long and therefore many measurements
are in multiples of six. Six is the number of material form. Why? Because a cube has six sides and
represents the six directions. For one of the better explanations of Egyptian numerology relative to the
platonic solids, see Elizabeth Haich’s book, Initiation (chapter 32).

Chapter 40 pertains to the last of the three Temples found in the Bible:

• The Tabernacle in the Wilderness – Symbolizing the Personality.

• The Temple of Solomon – Symbolizing the Soul.
• The Temple of Ezekiel – Symbolizing the highest monadic, triadal (tri-kaya in Buddhism) body of
consciousness and the exalted states of consciousness only reachable by an Arhat! It comes into
view for the initiate of the third initiation and then becomes a goal, but not before.

Conclusion

We hope this paper has served to illuminate somewhat the true symbolic and allegorical nature of
Ezekiel, and perhaps inspire a few to consider it in its true and proper light.

We also hope that if nothing else, we have helped to dispel the misnomer going around under the
Ancient Aliens and Christian Ufology moniker, that Ezekiel has anything to do with UFOs.

© Clifford Ribaudo, August 8, 2022 25 cr@iphemeris.com