Nox Niijosa by: Walter Leslie Wilmshurst (1917)

First appearing in The Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse (1917), Nox Nivosa is a profoundly esoteric poem, rich with symbolism and allegory, encapsulating deep spiritual concepts about the soul’s journey through life, death, and rebirth. Wilmshurst uses the metaphor of snowflakes to illustrate the cyclical process of creation, dissolution, and transformation, ultimately leading to spiritual enlightenment and union with the divine.

Nox Niijosa

by: WALTER LESLIE WILMSHURST

"SNOWFLAKES downfloating from the void
Upon my face,
Spilth of the silent alchemy employed
In deeps of space
Where viewless everlasting fingers ply
The power whose secret is the mystery
That doth my world encase;"

>The snowflakes represent spiritual energy or divine thoughts descending from the void (the formless source of all creation) into the material world. The "silent alchemy" refers to the invisible process of creation—the transformation of spiritual essence into physical form. The "viewless everlasting fingers" are a metaphor for the divine forces shaping these thoughts into tangible expressions. The "mystery" encapsulating the world symbolizes the hidden laws of creation that govern both the cosmos and the individual soul.

"Power that with equal ease outshakes
Yon architrave
Of massy stars in heaven and these frail flakes
Earth's floor that pave;
Swings the flamed orbs with infinite time for dower
And strews these velvet jewels not an hour
Of sunshine that will brave;"

>Here, Wilmshurst explores the idea that the same divine power that moves the stars ("flamed orbs") is responsible for the formation of snowflakes. This reflects the Hermetic principle "As above, so below," showing the interconnectedness of the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual soul). The delicate snowflakes, like the grand movements of celestial bodies, are expressions of the same universal force, symbolizing the balance between the infinite and the finite.

"Yet of whose clustered crystals none
But speaks the act Of the hand that steers each ceaseless-wheeling sun
And to whose tact
Fire-wreath and spangled ice alike respond;
Thoughts from the void frozen to flower and frond,
Divinely all compact;"

>Wilmshurst continues the metaphor by describing the snowflakes as "thoughts from the void frozen to flower and frond." This suggests that all forms—whether they are grand cosmic entities or delicate earthly creations—are manifestations of divine thought. The "hand that steers each ceaseless-wheeling sun" is a metaphor for the divine intelligence guiding the universe, reinforcing the idea that both the macrocosmic (sun) and microcosmic (snowflake) are governed by the same spiritual principles.

"Snowflakes, of pureness unalloyed,
That in dark space
Are built, and spilt from out the teeming void
With prodigal grace,
Air-quarried temples though you fall scarce-felt
And all your delicate architecture melt
To tears upon my face, —"

>In this stanza, the snowflakes are described as "air-quarried temples," symbolizing the temporary, yet beautiful, nature of all material forms. Despite their intricate design, these creations quickly dissolve ("melt to tears"), emphasizing the transient nature of life and the impermanence of the physical world. The "teeming void" represents the boundless source from which all forms arise and eventually return, highlighting the cyclical process of creation and dissolution in the universe.

"I too am such encrystalled breath
In the void planned
And bodied forth to surge of life and death;
And as I stand
Beneath this sacramental spilth of snow,
Crumbling, you whisper:
'Fear thou not to go
Back to the viewless hand;"

>The speaker identifies with the snowflakes, recognizing that, like them, he is a temporary crystallization of divine essence ("encrystalled breath"). The "surge of life and death" refers to the soul’s journey through multiple incarnations, shaped by cycles of creation and dissolution. The snowflakes’ whisper to "fear thou not to go back to the viewless hand" is a reassurance that death is not an end but a return to the source—a concept central to mystical traditions like Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism.

"'Thence to be moulded forth again
Through time and space
Till thy imperishable self attain
Such strength and grace
Through endless infinite refinement passed By the eternal
Alchemist that at last
Thou see Him face to face'"

>The poem concludes with the promise of reincarnation and spiritual evolution. The "eternal Alchemist" represents the divine force that continually refines the soul through successive lifetimes ("moulded forth again through time and space"). The ultimate goal is for the soul to attain "strength and grace" through this process, eventually reaching a state of perfection where it can directly perceive the divine ("see Him face to face"). This aligns with the esoteric teachings of spiritual ascension, where the soul moves closer to unity with the divine source through cycles of purification and enlightenment.

About the Author:
Walter Leslie Wilmshurst (1867-1939) was a renowned Freemason and mystical writer with a profound influence on the esoteric interpretations of Freemasonry. His Masonic journey began in 1889 when he was initiated into **Huddersfield Lodge No. 290** in Yorkshire, England. Throughout his Masonic career, Wilmshurst held several significant offices and was deeply committed to exploring the spiritual dimensions of the craft.

Masonic Orders and Degrees:
1. Craft Freemasonry:
- Initiated, passed, and raised in Huddersfield Lodge No. 290.
- Held various offices within the lodge, reflecting his deep engagement with the teachings and symbolism of the Craft Degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason).
2. Royal Arch Masonry:
- Advanced to the Holy Royal Arch, which Wilmshurst viewed as the culmination of the Craft Degrees. He believed the Royal Arch revealed the hidden meanings and spiritual truths that complete the Masonic journey.
3. Mark Master Mason:
- Wilmshurst was a Mark Master Mason, a degree that further explores the symbolic role of the individual as a builder and delves into the importance of integrity and moral character in the Masonic path.

Wilmshurst’s focus was primarily on the Craft Degrees and their extensions through the Royal Arch and Mark Masonry, where his esoteric teachings found their most profound expression. His writings and lectures emphasized the transformative journey these degrees represent, guiding initiates toward spiritual enlightenment and the realization of divine truths.