Read Chapter 9 of Donald Tyson’s book, Power of the Name, formerly titled Tetragrammaton.
Copy and paste the following questions into a new post to your Ning MemberFiles AOM 1st Degree study hall, insert your answers and post them with the subject line: Tetragram Lesson 9 from ________ (your magikal or priestly name)
1. Tyson says there are two piles of stones inscribed with the law of God.Check off which list best describes them.
____great, halved stones
___small, medium, and great stones
___great, whole stones
2. T/F The ark of the covenant went over the river first, before the stones.The stones were waiting in the river.
3. Look up Deuteronomy 27: 15 – 26 and list the 12 curses Tyson is referring to.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
4. What was the purpose of carrying and setting up the stones?
5. Sacrifices played an important role in ancient worship. Why was sacrifice thought essential in connection with the river?
6. There is a connection between curses, the ark, a magick ritual conducted by Joshua, and Moses. Describe how these elements all come together and why.
7. What are the names of the mountains that play no part in the passage ritual because they are not nearby?
8. Tyson talks about the ‘six stones of Mount Gerizim bless the people’ on page 69. Speculate on why a blessing was needed and how the stones are used to carry out a blessing. Do you think they meant literally? Or did they mean something else? If so, explain.
9. Those who remained obedient were promised something. Write down the content of what these were.
10. Those who did not remain obedient also got something. Write down what these curses were.
11. Although it sounds bloodthirsty to our modern ears, the blood Tyson mentions may have been a baptism of the stones. Blood and baptism is a common theme in both the Old and New Testament. Discuss how rites of passage involving blood (symbolic or actual) have been archetypes.
12. How do we know that the spirits of the twelve unfortunate men really entered into the twelve stones and how were the stones brought alive?
13. What is the most primitive form of altar?
Think of other monuments throughout the world and list what countries they are found in.
Extra: When you are next out walking somewhere think about altars and gather some stones up into a pile. Think about what stones meant to our ancestors and reflect on their enduring presence in spirituality throughout the world.
14. Talk about how altars evolved in design, materials, and size.
15.T/F Even in earliest times, human sacrifice was extremely uncommon.
16. Tyson makes some general observations about stones used in altars. List the right answers: _______________ A–the stones were large and had to be moved by several men.
B–the stones were rounded.
C–stones were chosen for their regular size and shape.
D–the stones were small enough to be carried on the back of a single man.
E–they were cut square to represent the Tetragrammaton.
F–many of the stones were the size of the human head or smaller.
16. T/F The act of sprinkling blood was not as important as the act of killing itself.
17. What were the other uses of stones besides the building of altars?
18. Stones were used as marker points, carriers of mystic power, and means to focus energy for specific purposes. Do you think that today we have gone past having to use objects to focus our thoughts or do you feel there still is a place for magick using physical objects? Explain why you feel this way.
14. Twelve figures prominently in symbolism. Check off the right answers to the ‘things’ Tyson mentions.
____twelve bowls
____twelve stones of the altar surface
____twelve gold necklaces
____twelve jewels in breastplate of Aaron
____twelve pillars
____twelve loaves of bread
____twelve cakes
____twelve priest’s robes
____twelve cups
____twelve gates
____twelve saints
____twelve angels
____twelve foundations
____twelve fruits on the tree of life
____twelve foundation stones
____twelve computers
____twelve apostles
15. At its most fundamental, what geometric shape is the Name of God?
a) round
b) rectangle
c) square
d) trapezoid
16. And one final question: Why are the throne and altar considered the same on a symbolic level?
Extra credit: Look in the Appendix B, p.239 of your book. Browse through the commentaries. No doubt one of the names will interest you, so to learn more, look up websites the internet or in an encyclopedia. Write down any interesting websites you find so that others in the school may go there and ‘check it out’. What I found:
__________________________________________________________________
Questions by Rev. Diakonissa Rhonda
