These pillars, known in the Book of the Dead as the Pillars of Shu or the Pillars of the Gods of the Dawning Light, serve as the Northern and Southern gates of the Hall of the Neophyte—also called the Hall of Truth. Like Yin and Yang, they represent two great opposing forces in the manifested Universe. The pillars traditionally stand in black and white, adorned with various Egyptian drawings. Boaz, the black pillar, embodies feminine nature, while Jachin, the white pillar, represents masculine nature.

In ancient Egyptian texts, these pillars are portrayed as sacred columns that form a gateway. The candidate may only pass through this gateway after completing their negative confession—notably the oldest known prayer in human history. The black cubical bases of the pillars symbolize darkness and matter, representing manifestation. Within matter and manifestation, the Ruach Elohim began to formulate the Ineffable Name—a name that, according to the ancient Rabbis, "rushes through the Universe."

A Lotus flower is painted on the base of both pillars. It is a white flower on the black pillar and a black on the white. As a matter of fact, all of the paintings are in the opposite color, so the white painted symbols would be on the black, black symbols would be on the white. The following is a section from the Z-1 document which can be found in the Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie, Lewellyn Publications.

"The base of the two pillars are respectively in Netzach and in Hod, the white pillar being in Netzach and the black pillar in Hod. They represent the two pillars of Mercy and Severity. The bases are cubical and black to represent the Earth element in Malkuth. The columns are respectively in black and white to represent the manifestation of the eternal balance of the scales of justice. Upon them should be represented in counter-charged color any appropriate Egyptian designs and emblematic of the soul." "The scarlet Tetrahedronal capitals represent the fire of test and trial, and between the pillars is the doorway of the region immeasurable. The twin lights which burn upon their summits are 'The Declarers of the Eternal Truth.' The base of the Tetrahedra, being triangular, on the white pillar points east, while that on the black pillar points west, thus they complete the hexagram of Tiphareth though seperate as it is fitting in the Hall of Dual Manifestation of Truth."

Let me explain the symbolism of these pillars briefly. In discussing the symbols of the 0=0 degree of Neophyte, you've learned about the mystical meaning of the two pillars' placement. I'll now draw your attention to their hieroglyphics—one pillar bears black symbols on white, while the other reverses these colors. This design expresses the interchange and reconciliation of opposing forces in the Eternal Balance of Light and Darkness, which shapes our visible universe.

The black square bases symbolize Darkness and Matter, wherein the Spirit—the Ruach Elohim—forms the eternal pronunciation of the Ineffable Name, that name which the ancient Rabbis said rushes through the Universe, before which darkness retreated at Time's dawn.

The flame-red triangular capitals crowning the pillars represent the threefold manifestation of the Spirit of Life: the "three Mothers" of the Sepher Yetzirah, the three alchemical principles of Nature—Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt. Each pillar bears its own Light-bearer, though hidden from the material world.

The hieroglyphical figures adorning the pillars come from the 17th and 125th chapters of the "Ritual of the Dead," the Egyptian "Per-M-Hru." This ancient text contains mystical hymns and ceremonial rituals for the Soul after death, guiding its union with Osiris the Redeemer. In the Ritual, the Soul becomes known as "Osiris," being now a member of him. As Christ said, "I am the Vine, ye are the branches," so too did the purified Son of God declare, "I am a member of the Body of Osiris." This Egyptian Ritual, refined through suffering and strengthened through opposition, predates even Menes—the great Egyptologists Birch and Bunsen place its origin between 3100 and 4500 BCE, when Osirian worship was already established.

The 17th chapter of the Per-M-Hru, one of its oldest sections, provides symbols that adorn these pillars. At each pillar's base grows the lotus, symbolizing new life, regeneration, and metempsychosis. The original papyri feature red hieroglyphs marking "explanations," followed by commentary on the ancient text.

This commentary, according to scholars, merged with the main text around 2250 BCE—long before Joseph or the Trojan War. The presence of written commentary even then suggests the text's far greater antiquity. The 17th chapter, titled "The Book of the Egyptian Faith," presents a hymn of the Osirified Soul:

"The Words of the Departed Spirit, Osiris—Son of God: I am Temu, the Setting Sun—I am the only Being in the Firmament.

I am Ra, the Rising Sun, I have passed from the Gate of Death unto life. The Sun's power begins anew after setting. (As does the justified Spirit of Man.)

I am the Great God, self-begotten. The Elementary Powers cannot turn me back: I am the Morning, I know the Gate: (I rise again into Existence; I know the pathway through Death unto Life.)

The Father of the Spirit, the Eternal Soul of the Sun, has examined and proved me; he found that I fought Earth's battle of the Good Gods as commanded by my Father, Lord of the Invisible World. I know the Great God who dwells in the Invisible. I am the Great Phoenix in Annu, Former of my Life and Being."

The column symbols, starting at the top of the black-on-white pillar, represent various passages of the 17th chapter: Temu's symbols, the Setting Sun, Past and Future; Temu's Western Adoration; the Western Abode shown by Anubis's Jackal in a shrine with adoring Isis and Nephthys; Osiris's Adoration; the Phoenix or Bennu; and the departed spirit's reformation—depicted as a human-headed bird soul descending to the body, with Khem's dual manifestation shown by birds flanking the mummy. The purified soul continues upward, reaching the Two Truths' pools (shown as quadrangular figures), passing through Anrutf (the Northern Gate) and Tajeser's Gate, declaring to the Guardians: "Give me your strength, for I am made as you are." Then appears Osiris's Mystical Eye (representing the Sun) and the Cow (symbolizing Heaven's Blue Firmament). Following this is the Truth Lords' adoration behind Northern Heaven: "Hail to you, Truth Lords, Chiefs behind Osiris! Followers of her whose peace endures." The soul then rises at the Persea Trees' mystic pool, where Horus (as the great Cat) slays evil Apophis. The chapter concludes with the Creator's adoration in his Bark and the purified Soul's union with its maker.

The 125th chapter, "The Hall of the Two Truths," describes the separation of sins from a person who has seen the Gods' faces. It begins with the Truth Lords' solemn adoration and the ceremony of passing the forty-two Dead Assessors. After the Soul's Weighing and the Hall's mystical naming—similar to the Neophyte's dark path circumambulation in the 0=0—the pillar shows Anubis guiding the Soul into Truth's Hall. There, Anubis weighs the Soul's earthly actions against Truth in Ma's mystical scales, while ibis-headed Thoth records and the Devourer awaits any evil-lived soul.

Having passed this trial, Horus presents the soul to Osiris, who sits enthroned with his Crook and Scourge—mercy and severity's symbols. Isis and Nephthys, Goddesses of Nature and Perfection, stand behind him, while the four Dead Genii rest upon the Lotus flower of metempsychosis. Thus, these pillar symbols represent the Soul's advancement and purification, culminating in its union with Osiris the Redeemer in an infinite Light's Golden Dawn. There, the Soul—transfigured and all-knowing—joins with Eternal God as the true:

"Khabs-am Pekht Konx om Pax Light in Extension"