Sacred Geometry in Cistercian Architecture and Kabbalistic Gematria Systems

Pythagorean musical principles (a particular technical-symbolic methodology initially implemented in the design of these Cistercian abbeys and later applied with supreme mastery in Gothic Cathedrals), we can proceed in drawing the constructive layouts through the golden amplification of the epicenter of the Abbey, then expand it - like an echo - throughout the entire plan (Fig. 7). To do this, we draw a circle concentric to the primitive circle $C_1$, amplifying the latter according to a golden increment: $C_2 = C_1' = C_1 \times 1.618$; The extension of the sides of the rectangle/transept meets this second circle $C_2$, determining 8 specific points that indicate the position of the relative columns around the crossing of the transept. The union of these points through straight lines establishes the other dimensions of the Abbey: the width of the side naves (B), the length of the transept (D), the depth of the chapels (E). To conclude the constructive scheme of the plan, it is necessary to fix the width of the transept (D) and the average width of the bays (M). Therefore, we proceed as follows: We inscribe a circle $C_3$ tangent to the length of the transept (that is, on the main axis of the Temple, the decumanus) and amplify it always in a golden manner, obtaining the circle $C_4 = C_3' = C_3 \times 1.618$ (Fig. 8). The intersection and contact of circle $C_4$ with the geometric grid determines and concludes the proportioning of the transept/apse, establishing the average width of the naves (M), a width that spreads - like an echo - 7 times on the main axis of the temple, determining the length of the nave. Comparing this dynamic layout based on golden harmony with the plan of the Cistercian Abbey of San Galgano, it is possible to find remarkable precision (continues...) Gematria and Geometry 1st part (Leovir and Zadik) The esoteric Tradition of Israel bases much of its speculation and meditation on the properties of language, particularly on the use of deep reflection applied to the Pentateuch and the inspired Prophetic writings, which can reveal the mysteries of Divine Will and guide the steps of humanity's spiritual evolution. The wise Masters of the Kabbalistic Tradition were not by chance called the Masters of the Name (Baal ha-Shem) because they knew the secret techniques of alphabetical revolution suitable for understanding the occult meanings of sacred texts and extracting divine and angelic names to be used in ritualistic and mystical ascesis of the Merkabah. These revolution systems, passed from the Hebrew Kabbalistic environment to the Greek and then Latin ones, inspirers of Giordano Bruno when he wrote the famous treatises on mnemotechnics and magic seals, were already used by Raymond Lull and became famous in modern times as a cryptographic system treated by Abbot Trithemius of Sponheim in the work entitled Steganographia. Although modern studies on cryptography have seen nothing but a linguistic mechanism to conceal secret messages for political purposes, economic interests or for personal protection purposes, much more is hidden in the Traditional systems of Kabbalah which, through 4 main procedures, distill the essence of the Words of Revelation (Sacred Scripture), opening the shell of the literal form to reveal the essence of the divine message. The methods provided for this sacred decryption are the following: Temurah: that is, the possibility of changing the position of letters in a word forming new terms, but with complementary essential meaning. Notarikon: the formation of synthetic terms composed of the initial or final letters of the words composing a sentence (called acrostic in Greek), or vice versa the decomposition of a term composed of a definite number of letters into as many words whose initials correspond to those of the taken term. Gematria: the comparison of terms or phrases through the numerical equivalence of the terms that compose them, possible by virtue of the fact that in the Hebrew alphabet each letter has a corresponding numerical value and identifies that number. Ziruph: the revolution of the order of alphabetical letters according to a progressive displacement of the letter considered initial. Gematria, which we deal with in this article, is one of the most intriguing alphabetic-mathematical systems. The term Gematria, (in Hebrew גימטריא,) is associated with the Greek term Geometry, probably from a time when the arithmetic idea of number did not exist separate from its geometric visual idea. Geometry can be considered the expression of number in form, so also Gematria can be understood as the relationship between number and its formal-verbal expression, being number an abstract concept of a power. Number dresses itself in the garment of the letter...