C A B A L A
This ia a simple discourse on some of the major facets of
the Cabala. It is also spelled as Kabbalah and Qabalah. O R I
G I N S Kabbalah: From the Hebrew word QBL meaning 'an oral tradition',
the esoteric and mystical division of Judaism. The Kabbalah presents
a symbolic explanation of the origin of the universe, the relationship
of human beings to the Godhead, and an emanationist approach
to creation whereby the Infinite Light (AIN SOPH AUR) manifests
through different SEPHIROTH on the TREE OF LIFE. Although the
central book of the Kabbalah, the ZOHAR, was not written down
until around 1280 -- probably by MOSES de LEON -- the Kabbalah
has spiritual links with GNOSTICISM and other early mystical
cosmologies. In the Kabbalah, all manifestations are said to
have their origin in the AIN SOPH AUR and the successive emanations
of the Godhead reveal aspects of his divine nature. The system
is thus monotheistic in essence, but allows for the tenfold structure
of the sephiroth upon the tree of life. The emanations as they
proceed down from the Godhead to the manifested world, are: KETHER
(The Crown);CHOKMAH(Wisdom); BINAH(Understanding);CHESED(Mercy)
GEBURAH(Power);TIPHARETH(Beauty & Harmony);NETZACH(Victory);
HOD(Splendor);YESOD(Foundation);MALKUTH(The Kingdom) Occultists
in the HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN use the Kabbalistic
Tree of Life as a matrix or Grid for comparing the Archetypal
images of different mythologies that could be adapted to Ceremonial
Magic. For example, the merciful father (Chesed) has parallels
in other pantheons, namely ODIN (Scandinavia); ZEUS(Greece);JUPITER(Rome);
and RA(Egypt). This system of comparison became known as MYTHOLOGICAL
CORRESPONDENCES. It has become common in the occult tradition
to link the ten sephiroth of the Tree of Life with the 22 cards
of the MAJOR ARCANA of the TAROT. D E F I N I T I O N S QBL:
Hebrew word meaning 'from mouth to ear', thereby signifying a
secret oral tradition. It is the meaning of Kabbalah. Ain Soph
Aur: Hebrew expression meaning 'the limitless light'. Sephiroth:
The ten speres or emanations on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life,
a symbol which depicts the divine energy of creation proceeding
like a lighting flash through ten different stages, culminating
in physical manifestation. The sephiroth represent levels of
spiritual reality both in the cosmos and in people because the
Tree, metaphorically, is the 'Body of God', and people are created
in his image. The Tree is sometimes shown superimposed on the
body of ADAM KADMON --the archetypal man. Tree of Life: The Tree
consists of Ten spheres, or sephiroth, through which according
to mystical tradition--the creation of the world came about.
The sephiroth are aligned in three columns headed by the SUPERNALS
(KETHER, CHOKMAH, BINAH) and together symbolize the process by
which the infinite light (Ain Soph Aur) becomes manifest in the
universe. Beneath the Supernals are the 'Seven days of Creation':
CHESED,GEBURAH,TIPHARETH,NETZACH,HOD,YESOD,MALKUTH. Taken as
a whole, the tree of life is also a symbol of the archetypal
man -- ADAM KADMON, and the sephiroth have a role resembling
that of the CHAKRAS in YOGA. The mystical path of self knowledge
entails the rediscovery of all the levels of ones being, ranging
from Malkuth (physical reality) to the infinite source. With
this in mind, the medieval Kabbalists divided the Tree of Life
into three sections of the soul: NEPHESCH (the animal soul) corresponding
to the sephiroth YESOD: RUACH (the middle soul), corresponding
to the sephiroth from HOD to CHESED: and NESCHAMAH ( the spiritual
soul) corresponding to the Supernals --especially BINAH. Practitioners
of WESTERN MAGIC, who use the Tree of Life as a glyph for the
unconscious mind, sometimes distinguish the MAGICAL PATH (which
embraces all ten sephiroth) from the MYSTICAL PATH of the MIDDLE
PILLAR, which is an ascent from MALKUTH through YESOD and TIPHARETH
to KETHER on the central pillar of the Tree. Zohar: 'The Book
of Splendor'--the principal book of the Kabbalah. It is thought
to have been written by Moses de Leon and was first circulated
around 1280-1290, in Guadalajara. It included commentaries on
the TORAH. Gnosticism: Gnosis is a Greek term for 'knowledge'.
The term applies to (Gnosis) certain religous sects that emerged
during the early formative years of early Christianity, and which
belived in 'Hidden Spiritual Knowledge'. The main factor that
differentiated them from Chritianity was their emphasis on knowledge
rather than faith. The Christian churche fathers considered the
Gnostics Heretical, or Heretics. Kether: The first Emanation
on the Tree of Life. Occultists indentify Kether as the state
of consciousness where creaton merges with the veils of nonexistance.
Kether lies on the MIDDLE PILLAR and trancends the duality of
CHOKMAH (male) and BINAH (female), which lie immediately below
on the Tree. It is therefore symbolized in mystical tradition
by the heavenly ANDROGYNE (male and female united in one), and
represents a state of mystical Transcendence and union with the
Supreme. It is compared to SATORI and NIRVANA. Chokmah: The second
emanation on the Tree of Life, following Kether. Occultists identify
Chokmah with the Great Father, the giver of the seminal spark
of life which is potent only until it enters the womb of the
Great Mother, Binah. From the union of the Great Father and Great
Mother come forth all the images of creation. Chokmah is associated
with such deities as KRONOS, SATURN, THOTH, ATUM-RA,and PTAH,
in other pantheons. Binah: The third emanation on the Tree of
Life. Occultists identify Binah with the Great Mother in all
her forms. She is the womb of forthcoming, the source of all
the great images and forms that manifest in the universe as archetypes.
She is also the Supreme female principal in the process of Creation
and, via the process mythological correspondences, is associated
with such deities as The VIRGIN MARY, RHEA, ISIS, and DEMETER.
Chesed: The fourth emanation on the Tree of Life. Occultists
identify Chesed as the ruler (but not Creator) of the manifested
universe; and he is characterised as stable, wise, and merciful
by contrast with his more dynamic opposite, GEBURAH. Chesed is
asscociated with Gods ZEUS (Greek), and JUPITER(Roman). Geburah:
The fifth emanation on the Tree of Life. Geburah is often associated
with MARS, the Roman God of War, and represents severity and
Justice. The destructive forces of the sphere of Geburah are
intended to have a purging, cleansing effect on the universe.
Geburah represents the Creator God, who applies discipline and
presicion in governing the cosmos and removes unwanted or unnecessary
elements after their usefullness has passed. Geburah is reflected
in THE CHARIOTEER in the TAROT. Tiphareth: The sixth emanation
on the Tree of Life.It is the sphere of beauty, harmonizing the
forces of mercy(Chesed) and Judgement (Geburah), higher on the
Tree. Occultists identify Tiphareth as the sphere of spiritual
REBIRTH, and ascribe to it the Solar Deities such as RA,APOLLO,
and MITHRA as well as OSIRIS and JESUS CHRIST. The TAROT card
TEMPERANCE identifies the direct mystical ascent to Tipareth
from Malkuth(the physical). Netzach: The seventh emanation on
the Tree of Life. Netzach is regarded as the sphere of creativity,
subjectivity, and the emotions -- a very clear contrast to the
sphere of HOD, which represents intellect and rational thought.
Netzach is the sphere of Love, and spiritual passion and is therefore
associated with such deities as APHRODITE, VENUS, HATHOR, and
others that personify these qualities. Hod: The eighth emanation
on the Tree of Life. Hod is associated with the planet Mercury
and represents intellect and rational thought. It also represents
the structuring and measuring capacities of the mind as opposed
to the emotion and intuitional aspects of Netzach. Hod has no
exact parallel in the TAROT, but is closely linked to the card
JUDGEMENT, ascribed to the path between Hod and Malkuth. Yesod:
The ninth emanation on the Tree of Life. Yesod is associated
with the Moon and the element Water. Regarded as a Female sphere,
it is the seat of sexual instinct and corresponds to the Genitals
Chakra on the archetypal man, ADAM KADMON. On the Tree of Life
Yesod has the function of channelling the energies of the higher
down to the earth below(Malkuth). Occultists associate Yesod
with the ASTRAL PLANE, because if the sephiroth above Malkuth
are regarded as a map of the unconscious psyche, Yesod is the
most accesible area of the mind. Because Yesod is the sphere
of Fertility and Lunar imagery, it is identified with Witchcraft
and Goddess Worship. It also the so called 'animal soul' know
by kabbalists as Nephesch. Malkuth: The tenth emanation of the
Tree of Life. Malkuth is associated with the Goddesses of the
Earth especially PERSEPHONE(Greece), PROSERPINA(Rome), and GEB(Egypt).
Malkuth is the domain of the manifested universe, the immediate
enviroment, the plane of physical reality. As a consequence,
all 'inner journeys of consciousness' begin symbolically in Malkuth;
it is particularly appropriate, for example, that the myth of
the rape of PERSEPHONE confirms her both as queen of the UNDERWORLD
and as a Lunar Goddess. From an occult point of view, the Underworld
equates with the Lower unconscious mind, and the Moon, represented
by the sphere of Yesod, is the first Sephirah reached on the
inner mystic journey up the Tree of Life. Malkuth is closely
linked with the TAROT card THE WORLD. |