The Occult Symbolism of Yasin

The occult tradition of the West is filled with ritual references and influences based on the Old and New Testaments. The Quran has had similar influences on the ritual practices of many mystics and magicians. The reason for this is that the Quran lends itself well to mystical and occult interpretation. Much occult symbolism can be found through certain chapters (Suras) in the Quran. One of the most prominent is the Surah known as Ya-Syin. For hundreds of years, this chapter has been used extensively in rituals of planetary magick. The actual word Ya-Syin is composed of two letters, Ya (Yod) and Syin (Samech). These two letters form an occult code which many Islamic scholars have attempted to break. Many of them believe that these two letters represent Ya, “a method of announcement”, and Syin “a short version of Insan or Man”. Orthodox Islamic scholars have argued that Syin stands not for all men, but for the King of Men or the Prophet Mohammed himself. Occultists have argued against this myopic perception and postulated that it represents the Perfect Human (Primordial Man or Adam Kadmon).

Since these two letters are essential to understanding the occult role of this chapter, we need to begin by further analyzing their possible meanings. Let’s begin with a basic analysis of the letters as part of the alphabet. The letter Ya or Yod is a symbol of the extended hand in the Hebrew tradition. It indicates the directing power, a potential manifestation, and the eternity of time. In essence the letter Ya represents the ultimate masculine power; even its Hebrew form resembles the male sperm. In contrast, the letter Syin or Samekh is feminine in nature, a symbol of the ovum. It is a glyph of circular movement and indicates either a prop or support in Hebrew. The combination of both equals the range 70 and the letter ‘yin or Ayin, which means in Hebrew an eye. The eye of course represents the Third Eye or the spiritual vision during illumination. The combination of these two letters could be telling us that this illumination occurs during the act of union. In a sense Ya-Syin represents not only the union of the man and woman in a state of spiritual perfection but also the Serpent of Wisdom. The serpent lies at the base of the spine, near the sexual center, and ascends through the spine to activate the third eye. There are seven major Chakras in the body, which numerically correspond to the seven planets of the ancient world. The seven planets form the body of the Serpent and impact the human soul. Looking further into the chapter, we see many references to revelation, enlightenment, and spiritual judgment. Ya-Syin is the only chapter in the Quran where the word “Mubyn” or “made apparent” occurs seven times as a verse terminator. To make something apparent requires both shedding a light on it for others to see and having others, with the capacity to see, perceive it.

To gain a deeper understanding of the word Ya-Syin, we need to look at the verses right after it. These coded letters appear only at the beginning of chapters. This alludes to them as kind of evocation at the start. Whether they are names or codes, what follows would be related to them in some way. Therefore, to understand those energies, we need to look at the verses next to them. “1. Ya Syin. 2. By the Quran full of wisdom - 3. Thou art indeed One of the messengers, 4. On a Straight Way. 5. Sent down by the Mighty and Most Merciful.”

As I described earlier, Ya-Sayin, represents the union of masculine and feminine that leads to illumination and awareness. This illumination isn’t a state of emptiness, but contains within it qualities and attributes that leave behind signs to let us know that illumination did occur. The second verse elaborates further. It begins with a “vow” taken on the Quran itself. When the Divine takes a vow on a creature or object, it imbues it with sacredness and blessing. Even we take vows on things we hold to be sacred or blessed. The Quran itself is said to be stored in a Guarded Tablet and the word Quran means what is continually read out loud. To read something out loud from the Divine Tablet would be to manifest it, for it is said that the Divine says Be and it Is. By looking at the verse, we can also see that the Quran isn’t a dead material or spiritual object. It has an attribute of being full of wisdom. Wisdom can’t be gained simply by reading and an inanimate object can’t be wise. What this tells us is that the Quran is much more than the few hundred pages of scripture that Muslims accept as the unadulterated word of God, and even more than inscriptions on some heavenly tablet. The Quran is a continually living word that by its utterance, creation is made manifest and this living force has the attribute of Wisdom. Therefore, the recitation of Ya-Syin and the manifestation of it evokes an awareness of the Quran. The perceiving human is now a recipient of the living word and thus is illuminated and is left with the seed of wisdom. The Magi are the wise ones of their people and our craft is known in Arabic as Ilm Al-Hikmah (Knowledge of Wisdom). Our knowledge comes from the Quran and the word Ya-Syin can be used to evoke it, as can the celebration of mystical union.

The third verse now speaks to the recipient of wisdom. This person is at this point indeed a messenger from the Divine, imbued with wisdom and is a mirror of the power of creation in the universe. At the point of illumination, this person is a true magus, a priest and an active agent of the Divine Light. This liberation and state of empowerment comes from the Gnosis (Knowing) of Sophia (Wisdom). This is why the verse is intentionally ambiguous as to who the messenger is. It doesn’t say Mohammed you are the messenger, it speaks to the reader as indeed being one of the messengers. You also can be one of many who have reached a partial or advanced state of knowing through illumination and, as such, in one capacity or another became messengers. The emphasis on indeed is because through history there have been many people with the mental pathology of being messianic figures that have appeared all across the world. Each claimed a Divine mandate, with the rare one being genuine. A rational person would then be wondering if this talk of being a Divine messenger meant that we had joined the ranks of the foolish, the charlatan, and the pathological. The word indeed is then comforting emphasis that this isn’t the case. The illuminated wise person does not claim any kind of savior status, since illumination leaves little need for ego gratification. You are indeed one of those messengers guided to your true purpose in life, and most likely will remain anonymous or unrecognized.

The fourth verse talks about what kind of a messenger we become. We follow the straight path. This means a focused path to the Divine, that unites both mystical and magical approaches. It is straight because it has no error or deviation in it. This straight path is your own destiny and orbit. This is why it was sent down to you through revelation and illumination. You know who you are and what your purpose is in this world and thus walk that path, as revealed to you. It is revealed to you by the Exalted in Might and the Merciful. These two attributes of the Divine are in a sense two contrasting forces, masculine and feminine. The union of these two gives us the heart of the matter.

April 12, 2008 · Filed Under History, Occult Symbols, Religions 

 

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