"After the lower nature has returned to the brutishness,

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"After the lower nature has returned to the brutishness, the higher struggles again to
regain its spiritual estate. It ascends the seven Rings upon which sit the Seven Governors
and returns to each their lower powers in this manner: Upon the first ring sits the Moon,
and to it is returned the ability to increase and diminish. Upon the second ring sits
Mercury, and to it are returned machinations, deceit, and craftiness. Upon the third ring
sits Venus, and to it are returned the lusts and passions. Upon the fourth ring sits the Sun,
and to this Lord are returned ambitions. Upon the fifth ring sits Mars, and to it are
returned rashness and profane boldness. Upon the sixth ring sits Jupiter, and to it are
returned the sense of accumulation and riches. And upon the seventh ring sits Saturn, at
the Gate of Chaos, and to it are returned falsehood and evil plotting.
"Then, being naked of all the accumulations of the seven Rings, the soul comes to the
Eighth Sphere, namely, the ring of the fixed stars. Here, freed of all illusion, it dwells in
the Light and sings praises to the Father in a voice which only the pure of spirit may
understand. Behold, O Hermes, there is a great mystery in the Eighth Sphere, for the
Milky Way is the seed-ground of souls, and from it they drop into the Rings, and to the
Milky Way they return again from the wheels of Saturn. But some cannot climb the
seven-runged ladder of the Rings. So they wander in darkness below and are swept into
eternity with the illusion of sense and earthiness."