242 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



The first four numbers corresponded respectively 

 with a point, a line, a surface, and a cube. The 

 point ( i ) signified unity and harmony, or order, 

 having position, and being analogous to the monad 

 (Spirit, or Ego), was positive and bi-sexual, the 

 number of origin and of reason; the line (2) was 

 analogous to the duad, an even number, unlimited, 

 because it could be perpetually halved, negative and 

 feminine; and represented matter therefore the 

 possibility of evil and brute force ; a surface (3 ) 

 was analogous to the triad, or triangle, positive 

 and masculine; and a cube (4) to the tetrad, or 

 Tetraktys; considered the symbol of the Kosmos, 

 because containing within itself the point, the line, 

 the superficies, and the solid all essentials of 

 form. Its mystical representation is the point 

 within the triangle. Four was also significant as 

 the first square number, and as being the potential 

 decade ( i-|-2-}-3-|-4=io), or perfect number. 

 Pythagoras compared four to " a world that is 

 self-moving; it contains in itself, and is, the quar- 

 ternary." It was the number of justice, as was 

 three of mediation. 



Great honor was shown to three by all ancient 

 peoples, as, corresponding with the triangle, it was 

 the first absolutely perfect figure; endowed with 

 sacred significance as symbolizing the Eternal, the 

 first Perfection, and the three kingdoms. Al- 

 though the science of good and evil began with two, 



