The Two Paths to Freedom

The Old Masters of the Grand Way recognized Four main paths to Freedom, as clearly stipulated in this fragment from the Chemical Marriage of Christian Rosenkreuz (second day):

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Hospes salve: si quid tibi forsitan de nuptiis Regis auditum.Verba haec perpende. Quatuor viarum optionem per nos tibi sponsusoffert, per quas omnes, modo non in devias delabaris, ad Regiamejus aulam pervenire possis. Prima brevis est, sed periculosa, etquae te in varios scopulos deducet, ex quibus vix te expedirelicebit. Altera longior, quae circumducet te, non abducet, planaea est, et facilis, si te Magnetis auxilio, neque ad dextrum,neque finistrum abduci patieris. Tertia, vere Regia est, quae pervarias Regis nostri delicias et spectacula viam tibi reddetjucundam. Sed quod vix millesimo hactenus obtigit. Per quartamnemini hominum licebit ad Regiam pervenire, ut pote, quaeconsumens, et non nisi corporibus incorruptibilibus conveniensest. Elige nunc ex tribus quam velis, et in ea constans permane.Scito autem quamcunque ingressus fueris: ab immutabili Fato tibiita destinatum, nec nisi cum maximo vitae periculo regredi fasesse.


God save thee, stranger! If thou hast heard anything concerning the nuptials of the King, consider these words. By us doth the Bridegroom offer thee a choice between four ways, all of which, if thou dost not sink down in the way, can bring thee to his royal court. The first is short but dangerous, and one which will lead thee into rocky places, through which it will be scarcely possible to pass. The second is longer, and takes thee circuitously; it is plain and easy, if by the help of the Magnet, thou turnest neither to left nor right. The third is that truly royal way which through various pleasures and pageants of our King, affords thee a joyful journey; but this so far has scarcely been allotted to one in a thousand. By the fourth shall no man reach the place, because it is a consuming way, practicable only for incorruptible bodies. Choose now which thou wilt of the three, and persevere constantly therein, for know which soever thou shalt enter, that is the one destined for thee by immutable Fate, nor canst thou go back therein save at great peril to life. These are the things which we would have thee know, but, ho, beware! thou knowest not with how much danger thou cost commit thyself to this way, for if thou knowest thyself by the smallest fault to be obnoxious to the laws of our King, I beseech thee, while it is still possible, to return swiftly to thy house by the way thou camest


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I shall only contemplate here the two main ones, known as the DRY PATH (Via Sicca) and the HUMID PATH (Via Humida), as the other two are mixed ones (the third is the Amalgamated path, and the last one is the Royal Path, the fastest but also the most dangerous). Also, I shall confine myself to their image in the human domain, which is paramount.Both ways tackle the problem of WILL. How can I manage to go beyond my petty self, and escape from my own trap?

The two ways bifurcate.

The Dry Path says: from now on , TAKE FULL CHARGE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL YOU DO. LEARN TO WILL. STOP COMPLAINING, FINDING EXCUSE.SELECT, INVESTIGATE, CHOOSE, AND , STEP BY STEP, BECOME THE MASTER OF YOUR OWN LIFE

The Humid Path says: from now on, RELINQUISH YOUR PETTY LIKES AND DISLIKES, DECIDE NOT, GIVE IN, GIVE UP. THOU SHALT NOT CHOOSE. JUST SAY: LET THY WILL BE DONE, AND LIVE

Striving for full control, striving to lose any control..... what could be more different? Yet, the Sages assure us that the two paths, Fire and Water, both lead us to ultimate perfection.

Two characters: one, the Magician & Doer, the other, the Mystic & Poet.

They shall meet again at the end...

A sentence by Emile Cioran

Cioran was a consummate master of lapidary aphorisms.
Here is one, dear to my heart:

On ne réfléchit que parce qu'on se dérobe à l'acte.
Penser, c'est être en retrait.

We reflect for no other reason than to avoid doing.
To think, is to be in withdrawal

It is true. I have pondered enough. To me, now, there is nothing else but Doing.