Travis Simpkins: "The Most Holy Trinosophia" by The Count of Saint Germain

The Most Holy Trinosophia

by Le Comte de Saint Germain

Commentary by Manly P. Hall

Notes by Travis Simpkins

Designated "the most precious known manuscript of occultism," The Most Holy Trinosophia by the Count of Saint Germain has long proved to be inspirational reading for students of Rosicrucianism and the esoteric in general. The "Trinosophia," meaning "Three-fold Wisdom," spans Alchemy, Essenian Cabbalism and Hermetism. The text is divided into 12 sections, which relate to the Zodiac and the Alchemical process. Many of my notes in this breakdown are paraphrased from the commentary by Manly P. Hall.

Section 1: Depicts the "relapsed" state of the human soul. From the dungeons of materiality the sages released themselves through the practice of their esoteric rites.

Section 2: The initiatory ritual begins. The neophyte makes a sacred sacrifice and the earth opens. He follows the black vaulted passage which leads to immortality. Upon a square chamber with four doors, he enters the white door of the higher mysteries (and the Philosopher's Stone).

Section 3: The neophyte stands on the shore of a vast sea of ether that separates two worlds. Struggle and overcoming temptation to turn back lands him on the opposite side. (Alchemy: purification, passing the elements of the Stone through a bath).

Section 4: The neophyte passes unharmed through a sea of fire. He uses a jeweled sword to vanquish a serpent at the altar in the House of Fire. The senses are controlled: Anger, hate and pride have been exiled from the soul. He rises into the light of day. (Alchemy: vapor rising from a heated vessel).

Section 5: The candidate next experiences the "mystery of the airy or intellectual principle." (Alchemy: he rises up and down and is reborn). The candid may return to the narrowness of his physical environment, but he can never again reduce his consciousness bestowed by the experience of initiation.

Section 6: The candidate having ascended through the four elements, now continues. The number 9 is important. The mastery of nine parts of the soul constitutes the completion of the Lesser Mysteries and the full control of all bodily faculties, functions and powers.

Section 7: The initiate again assumes the attributes of the alchemical substance of the Philosopher's Stone. This section is devoted to the process of purification, consisting of three baths… a Divine Baptism.

Section 8: This section is largely devoted to an understanding of the mystery of the alchemical salt. When the initiate "impregnates" himself with salt, it is equivalent to saying that he makes wisdom a part of himself. Salt is a preservative of bodies, just as wisdom is a preservative of souls. Salt of the Sages = Wisdom from experience.

Section 9: The initiate comes face to face with the last great enemy- death, which must be experienced, understood, and overcome. "Corruption is the beginning of decay and corruption is followed by death."

Section 10: Death is followed by resurrection. Man must die many times in order that he may finally achieve immortality. The three-fold mystery of the butterfly equated to the three degrees of the Mystery School: Larva, pupa, imago. Alchemy is the art of purifying malcontents and restoring them to their original celestial state.

Section 11: The attempt of the intellect to break away from bondage to the animal soul. A luminous quality intimates that the arduous operations of the alchemist are about to be rewarded.

Section 12: The pilgrimage of the adept is at last completed. Heaven, earth and man have been united by the indissoluble bonds of Hermetic Wisdom. The projection of the Stone is the final testing of the completeness of the Work. The gates of Universal Life are open, the veil of the mystae is lifted. The elemental spirits symbolizing bodily limitations acknowledge the mastery of the inner principles. The philosophic birth is complete. The ages acknowledge a new Master.