Before we began upon our Kabbalistic/Elemental workings, we spent time working out what the temples would look like. We decided that the Temple of Malkuth would be our obvious starting point. We also decided that we would work in four sub temples, each devoted to an Element.
The Temple of Malkuth was drawn in part from existing descriptions. Its floor is of square black and white tiles, and the walls of rough bark. At the quarter points are four enormous picture windows. These windows are the doorways to the sub temples of the elements, and are tall enough to allow us to pass through.
Depicted on the windows are the four Kerubim or Elemental animals. The pictures are not static. In the East there is a man pouring water from an urn, a wind is blowing the man's hair across his face, and causing the water to foam and bubble as it cascades forth.
In the South, we see a lion standing rampant in the noonday sun. The lion is in a desert, and red sand is the only background. A heat haze shimmers in the distance.
Westwards, a sea eagle with its wings fully outstretched, and it's talons extended swoops to capture a prize from the sea. As with the South window, the background is nondescript, with an iron-grey sky above a leaden sea.
A huge black bull stands in a cornfield surrounded by poppies and cornflowers in the North window. It is midnight and a full moon shines overhead. The moonlight glistens on the horns of the bull.
As each window is faced in turn, we not only see it, but also try to engage our other senses. A gentle breeze caresses us as we face the East; from the South we feel the fierce heat of the desert; a fine sea spray touches us as we turn to the West, and in the North, we smell the earth and vegetation.
When using the Temple of Malkuth to enter a sub temple, the picture windows are very prominent. However, when using the Temple to travel the paths of the Kabbalah they are less so.
In the centre of the Temple is a double cube altar made of solid granite. The sides of the altar are roughly hewn, but the top is polished. Upon the altar are the four tools of the elements, the sword, wand, cup and pentacle. A small permanently light lamp is also placed there.
Facing East the pillars of Boaz and Joachim stand either side of a door. A door also flanks each pillar. These three doors provide egress to the three lower paths of the Tree of Life. The doors bear the Hebrew letter appropriate to the path behind them, Shin, Tau and Resh.
A cupboard stores our staffs, robes and sandals. Two small stands hold incense burners, and at the foot of the pillars are shallow offery plates.
The Temple is large enough to hold all these things without seeming crowded.
