The Third Principal

(Title-page to Scripta in Naturali et Universali Philosophia, 1653.)

The Third Principal stands symbolically as the Left-Hand Pillar of Solomon’s Temple (the Temple of Light), signifying intelligence and understanding, judgement and perception, and the natural world. His hat is black, with almost no brim, in contrast to the white hat and up-turned brim of the Second Principal and the dark hat with wide ‘haloed’ brim of the First Principal. Beneath his cloak his left foot is showing.

In his left hand he holds an astrolabe, hanging down by his side towards the ground, signifying the earthly sphere and the human intelligence which, through careful observation and calculation, can gradually come to see and understand the light. His left hand is appropriately level with the base of his spine, the root chakra, in contrast to that of the First Principal whose left hand is level with his crown chakra, and the Second Principal whose left hand is level with his heart.

© Peter Dawkins, FBRT, 1999