The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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414. “ And the name of his wife Mehetabel,” as it is written (in the text just cited), “ branches of palm trees.”
415. Also it is written, Ps. xcii. 3 : “The just man shall flourish as the palm tree.” For this is of the male and female sex.
416. She is called “the daughter of Hatred that is,
* See “ Greater Holy Assembly,” ch. xlii. §§ 984-996 ; ch. xxvi. §§ 513— 532-
THE LESSER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
the Daughter from that place wherein all things are bound together, which is called AB, Father.
417. Also it is written, Job xxviii. 13:“ Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living.”
418. She is the Daughter of Aima, the Mother ; from Whose side the judgments are applied which strive against all things.
419. “ The Daughter of Mizaheb ; ” because She hath nourishment from the two Countenances {Chokmah and Binah , which are within Kethcr ) ; and shineth with two colours — namely from ChSD, Chesed , Mercy ; and from DIN, Bin , Judgment.
420. For before the world was established Countenance beheld not Countenance.*
421. And therefore were the Prior Worlds destroyed, for the Prior Worlds were formed without ( equilibrated ) conformation.
422. But these which existed not in conformation are called vibrating flames and sparks, like as when the worker in stone striketh sparks from the flint with his hammer, or as when the smith smiteth the iron and dasheth forth sparks on every side.
423. And these sparks which fly forth flame and scintillate, but shortly they are extinguished. And these are called the Prior Worlds.
424. And therefore have they been destroyed, and persist not, until the Most Holy Ancient One can be conformed, and the workman can proceed unto His work.
425. And therefore have we related in our discourse that that ray sendeth forth sparks upon sparks in three hundred and twenty directions.
426. And those sparks are called the Prior Worlds, and suddenly they perished.
427. Then proceeded the workman unto His work, and was conformed, namely as Male and Female.
* See “ Book of Concealed Mjstery,” ch. i. §§ 2, 3, 4, et teq.
KABBALAH.
428. And those sparks became extinct and died, but now all things subsist.
429. From a Ligbt-Bearer of insupportable brightness proceeded a Radiating * Flame, dashing off like a vast and mighty hammer those -sparks which were the Prior Worlds.
430. And with most subtle ether were these intermingled and bound mutually together, but only when they were conjoined together, even the Great Father and Great Mother.
431. From Hoa , Himself, is AB, the Father; and from Hoa , Himself, is Ruach, the Spirit ; Who are hidden in the Ancient of Hays, and therein is that ether concealed.
432. And It was connected with a light-bearer, which went forth from that Light-Bearer of insupportable brightness, which is hidden in the Bosom of Aima, the Great Mother.
CHAPTER XI.
CONCERNING THE BRAIN OF MICROPROSOPUS AND ITS
CONNECTIONS.
433. And when both can be conjoined and bound together mutually ( i.e ., the Father and the Mother), there proceedeth thenceforth a certain hard Skull.
434. And it is extended on its sides, so that there may be one part on one side, and another one on another side.
435. For as the Most Holy Ancient One is found to include equally in Himself the Three Heads,! so all things
* Compare this with Miolner, the hammer of Thor, of Scandinavian mythology.
t Chokmah and Binah, included in Kether.
THE LESSER HOLY ASSEMBLY.
are symbolized under the form of the Three Heads, as wehave stated.
436. Into this skull {of Microyrosopus) distilleth the dew from the White Head {of Mcicroyrosopus ), and covereth it.
437. And that dew appeareth to be of two colours, and by it is nourished the field of the holy apple trees.
438. And from this dew of this Skull is the manna prepared for the just in the world to come.*
439. And by it shall the dead be raised to life.
440. But that manna hath not at any other time been prepared so that it might descend from this dew, save at that time when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, and the Ancient One supplied them with food from this place ; because that afterwards it did not fall out so more fully.
441. This is the same which is said, Exod. xvi. 4:
“ Behold I rain upon you bread from heaven.” And
also that passage where it is thus written, Gen. xxvii. 28 :
“ And the Elohim shall give unto thee of the dew of
heaven.”
442. These things occur in that time. Concerning another time it is written : “ The food of man is from