Cross of L'Occitane & Rose Cross Lamen of the New Order of the Golden Dawn

You know that soap store "L'Occitane" ? :P

The L'Occitane is actually a ancient historically rich territory in the south of France.

In the mid-90s I spent 3 1/2 months and covered 3000 miles in L'Occitane with my French girl friend on a tandem bike.

Little did I know then that there was some ancient connection with my family and L'Occitane.

The silver cross below was given to my grandmother by a deep spiritual friend. My Mom wouldn't tell me what the meaning was, and my guess is that it had meaning outside of my mom's religion, christian science, thus she was resistant to sharing the meaning. I love the cross. It reminds me of esoteric knowledge and spirituality. I looked it up on google and never got very far. Then this past week I was talking to French guy I met at an AI event, of course, and he was from the south of France and he is like it's the cross of L'Occitane and I'm, OMG it is! I spent 3 1/2 biking in Occitane and have a visceral connection to the land, the rocks, the plants the wine and the stories of Cathars. Of all the places in France outside of Paris where I lived, Occitane, both Provence and Languedoc were where I spent most of my time. Such a fun connection!

I also fell a connection between the cross and esoteric traditions like the Rose Cross Lamen

The rose in the middle has the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alphebet.

The order of the letters on the Rose Cross Lamen of the New Order of the Golden Dawn is significant in various ways. Here are some of the possible interpretations:

1. Kabbalistic significance: The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are arranged on the Rose Cross in a specific order that reflects their Kabbalistic significance. Each letter is associated with a particular number, sound, and symbolic meaning, and the order in which they appear on the cross is thought to convey a deeper meaning and symbolism.

2. Paths of the Tree of Life: The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet are also associated with the 22 paths of the Tree of Life, a central concept in Kabbalah. Each letter is thought to represent a particular path on the tree, and the order in which they appear on the cross is believed to reflect the initiate's journey through the Tree of Life.

3. Tarot correspondences: The Rose Cross Lamen also includes correspondences with the Tarot, with each letter of the Hebrew alphabet associated with a particular Tarot card. The order in which the letters appear on the cross is thought to reflect the initiate's journey through the Major Arcana of the Tarot.

4. Astrological correspondences: The letters of the Hebrew alphabet are also associated with astrological signs, and the order in which they appear on the Rose Cross Lamen is thought to reflect the initiate's journey through the zodiac.

5. Alchemical symbolism: The Rose Cross Lamen also includes alchemical symbolism, with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet representing various alchemical processes and principles. The order in which they appear on the cross is thought to reflect the initiate's journey through the alchemical process of transformation.

These are just a few examples of the possible interpretations of the order of the letters on the Rose Cross Lamen. The true significance of the order is likely to be complex and multi-layered, and may be revealed through study, contemplation, and initiatory experience.

Artist Dan Hiller is amazing. Makes me think of esoteric wisdom. https://www.instagram.com/mrdanhillier/