Symbol of

Verticality

WORDS + IMAGES

Plunging view down the staircase
Greeting Eos’ wake of dawn
Nobody there for me to face
But myself in a state of bond
From the depths of dark memory 
Emerges a staircase so steep
With knowledge progressing towards me 
Knowledge of the divine world ascending 
And of the depths of unconsciousness descending
Ascending white stairs to higher sciences
Descending black stairs into the occult kingdom
The ascent leading to exoteric prescience 
The descent to esoteric wisdom
Symbol of verticality and the world’s axis
Connecting the three cosmic worlds
Heaven, Earth and the Netherworld 
Lending itself to both regression and ascension
Summing up the whole drama of verticality
I awake, eyes plunging deep
Deep into unknown depths
Depths that engulf me
Engulf me down the steps
Into the light of a morning street

The Staircase and photo © 2023 Rodolphe Charpentier. All Rights Reserved