The three horizontals plus the central pillar form a structure that we can compare to the Hierophant's scepter - a triple cross. This is at the same time a key to the mysteries.
The three crossroads represent three levels of awareness that can become active.
The first, and lowest (Devil/Tower) represents the consciousness that awakens from the sleep of pure reactivity, and understands that it is formed by various forces, archons, and structures.
The second, central crossroad (Strength/High Priestess), signifies the act of manifesting power from out of the Mystery - now the adept is capable of asserting their own pressure onto manifestation, and or establishing their own structural presence within the malleable field of reality.
The third, upper crossroads (Empress, High Priestess), represents the moment of surrender to the divine that allows Love to be the guiding principle of one's manifestation in existence, and turns one's "powers" over to the horizon of maximum divine wholeness. This act then sanctifies and blesses all subsequent levels.
This threefold initiation forms the stages of development of true adepts within the field of metamagick and in relation to the mysteries. These three initiations do not cancel each other out - even as they are experienced separately, their effects are cumulative and additive, resulting in three "jewels" that shine out of the Magician's soul:
Wakefulness, Power, Love.
This is the Hierophant's Key.
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