The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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CHAPTER VI.
CONCERNING THE BEARD OF THE MOST HOLY ANCIENT ONE.
150. From the Beard of the Most Holy Ancient One hangeth the whole ornament of all, and the Influence ; for all things are called from that beard, Influence.
1 5 1 . This is the Ornament of all Ornaments, and this influence do all the superiors and inferiors alike behold.
THE LESSER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
152. From this Influence dependeth the life of all things.
153. From this Influence heavens and earth depend, the rains of grace, and the nourishment of all things.
154. From this Influence cometh the providence of all things. From this Influence depend all the superior and inferior hosts.
155. Thirteen fountains of excellent and precious oil depend from this beard of most glorious Influence, and they all flow down into Microprosopus.
156. Say not thou, however, that all do so, but nine of them are found (in Microprosopus ) for the purpose of diverting the judgments.
157. And whensoever this Influence hangeth down in equilibrium even unto the heart, all the Holinesses of the Holinesses of Holiness depend from it.
158. In that Influence is extended an expansion of the Supernal Emanation,* which is the Head of all Heads, which is not known nor perfected, and which neither superiors nor inferiors have known, because from that Influence all things depend.
159. In this beard the Three Heads concerning which we have spoken are expanded, and all things are associated together in this Influence, and are found therein.
160. And therefore every ornament of ornaments dependeth from that Influence.
161. Those letters which depend from this Ancient One all hang in that beard, and are associated together in that Influence.
162. And they hang therein for the purpose of establishing the other letters.
163. For unless those letters could ascend into the
Ancient One, those other letters could not be established.
164. And therefore Moses saith when necessary
* The word is QVTRA : Rosenroth translates it by “ Aporrhea.” It may also be translated “vapour,” or 41 nebula.’*
T 2
2 76
KABBALAH.
IHVH, IHYH, twice ; and so that an accent distinguishes the one from the other.
165. For assuredly from the Influence all things depend.
1 66. By that Influence are both superiors and inferiors brought unto reverence, and are prostrate before It.
167. Blessed is he who attaineth hereunto.
CHAPTER VII.
CONCERNING THE BRAIN AND THE WISDOM IN GENERAL.
168. Of this Most Holy Ancient One, Concealed with all Concealments, there is no mention made, neither is He found.
169. For since this Head is the supreme of all the supemals, hence He is only symbolized as a head alone without body, for the purpose of establishing all things.
170. And He Himself is concealed, and hidden, and kept recondite by all things.
1 7 1 . His conformation is that He is formed forth in that brain, the most hidden of all things, which is expanded and formed forth, and hence proceedeth the superior and inferior ChSD, Chesed , Mercy.
172. And the superior Chesed is formed forth and expanded, and all things are comprehended in this concealed brain.
173. For when that White Brilliance is formed forth in that Light, it acteth upon that which acteth upon this brain, and it is enlightened.
1 74. And the second brain dependeth from that very glorious Influence, it is expanded into the thirty-two *
* The ten numbers and twenty-two letters.
THE LESSER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
2 77 paths, when it is illuminated, then it shineth from that very glorious Influence.*
175. Therefore are the Three Supernal Heads illuminated ; Two Heads, and One which comprehendeth them ; and they hang in that Influence, and by It are they comprehended.
176. Hence becometh the ornament of the beard to be manifested, which is the occult Influence.
177. And those inferiors are conformed, like as the
Most Holy Ancient One.
178. The Three Heads surround Him ; thus all things can appear in the Three Heads ; and when they are illuminated all things depend together from Him in the Three Heads, whereof two are on the two sides, and one which includeth them.
179. And if thou sayest, “Who is the Most Holy Ancient One ?” Come and see. The Supreme Head is that which is not known, nor comprehended, nor designated, and that (Head) comprehendeth all things.
180. And the Two Heads are contained in Itself.
(Otherwise hang, &c.)
1 8 1 . And then are all these things thus ordained ; truly Himself existeth not in numeration, nor in system, nor in computation, but in the judgment of the heart.