Gnostic Art

The Alchemical Citadel

A Brief Introduction to The Alchemical Citadel of Heinrich Kunrath, 1602.

In the midst of humanity there is a most precious treasure; knowledge that transforms the common individual into something beautiful and rare. But this knowledge is full of terrible power and the method it requires demands the best of a human being, thus they are rare who can take this knowledge and use it properly. Therefore this knowledge has been well-protected, and only those who are worthy have been allowed to see even the cloak that covers its secrets.

This engraving allegorizes the entrance into the true universal knowledge of Alchemy. Humanity wanders around the citadel, engaged in all the vain activities that we are identified with: money, power, distractions. We build cities and churches and feel ourselves to be good and wise and just. Yet there are some who seek to know more.

Twenty-one doors ring the circumference of the citadel. This is a reference to the Arcanum Twenty-one of the Book of the Law: the Tarot. Arcanum Twenty-one is "Transmutation" or "The Fool," the one who lets himself fall into error. (The Twenty-first Arcanum has been confused with the Twenty-second, called "The Crown of Life," or "Return.") This reference illustrates that by far the majority of the doors we see as we seek the path to Self-realization are in fact false. 

Most people stand at the twenty false doors that surround the citadel. They do not enter. This is the common state of humanity; we look inside and we criticize what we see. We examine the teachings and we walk away. Very few have the courage to enter, to live what is taught, to define themselves.

"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:16

Yet, even those who dare to enter walk into a labyrinth. These false doors open into a labyrinth that only leads into deeper confusion. These twenty doors lead to all the theories, schools, teachings, books, ideas and concepts of men, the popular movements, the common and exoteric mysticism which never delivers true and experiential results or which lead into black magic and the enslavement of the soul. These twenty doors all claim to be the real entrance, and all take advantage of the naive.

Only one door is true (bottom center) and before it stand a man and a woman who follow a dog, the symbol of the instinctive sexual force.

Between the man and the woman is column upon a cteis, the lingam-yoni of Masonry, and it is topped by a heart, the symbol of love. These are the requirements to enter the true door of the mysteries.

Upon entering this door, the couple will encounter a guardian who wields a Caduceus of Mercury. This is the Guardian of the Threshold. The couple must conquer him to enter; and the only way to conquer him is to renounce everything that is false and of the ego, the "I," and instead they must commit themselves to serve their own Innermost Being, the Spirit, the Father who is in secret. (Herein is a clue to many who are misled nowadays: there are schools that teach instead that one must serve the Guardian of the Threshold; what they do not teach is that this Guardian must be conquered. Thus the naive ones are led into black magic. For more information see "The Revolution of Beelzebub" by Samael Aun Weor.)

Upon passing this ordeal, they will pass between the two columns of the temple, Jakin and Boaz, which are topped by the Sun and the Moon, alchemical symbols of the male and the female forces.

To go further the couple must have excellent psychological equilibrium to cross over the sexual waters; they must demonstrate that they can control the waters as Jesus did when he walk upon the Sea of Galilee. It is here that they may enter the Citadel itself.

The citadel has seven aspects, a symbol of the seven serpents, the seven colors, the seven vowels, the seven chakras, the seven notes of the lyre of Orpheus, the seven superior senses, etc.

The mountain is a symbol of the work we must do, as Moses ascended the mountain. The mountain rises out of the waters, within which are sitting the sun and the moon. The waters are the source of all life, and thus are the source of all spiritual birth. The direct knowledge of these waters, and how to work with them, constitute the fiercely protected secret of Alchemy. This knowledge is now revealed openly in the works of Samael Aun Weor.

At the base of the mountain is a repentant soul who begs forgiveness for his psychological defects and sins, and who prays for help to change; he faces a burning tree (the Kabbalah), as did Moses. He is admonished by two masters, who demand of him many works and proofs of his sincerity.

The mountain is topped by a great Dragon, the reflection of Christ, the guardian of the Philosopher's Stone, and he will only deliver it unto the soul that accomplishes all of the required works and who has become cleaned of all impurity. This is the legendary Stone that delivers all powers and immortality, gifts that can never be given to the impure soul.

"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes (intellectuals) and Pharisees (those who knowingly or unknowingly keep themselves and others from entering into the true work) you will never enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. You, therefore, must be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." - Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 5