The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
Under this Sephira are classed the angelic order of ChIVTh HQDSh, Chioth Ha-Qadcsli , holy living-creatures, the kerubim or sphinxes of Ezekiel’s vision and of the Apocalypse of John. These are represented in the Zodiac by the four signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — the Bull, Lion, Eagle, and Man : Scorpio, asa good emblem, being symbolized by the eagle, as an evil emblem by the scorpion, and as of a mixed nature by the snake.
This first Sephira contained the other nine, and produced them in succession, thus : —
- 43. The number 2, or the Duad. The name of the second Sephira is ChKMH, Chokmah , Wisdom, a masculine active potency reflected from Kether, as I have before explained. This Sephira is the active and evident Father, to whom the Mother is united, who is the number
- 3. This second Sephira is represented by the Divine Names, IH, Yah , and IHYH ; and among the angelio hosts by AYPNIM, Auphanim , the Wheels (Ezek. i.)^ It is also called AB, Ab , the Father.
* 44. The third Sephira, or Triad, is a feminine passive potency, called BINH, Binah , the Understanding, who isco-equal with Chokmah. For Chokmah, the number 2, is like two straight lines which can never enclose a space,,
INTRODUCTION.
2* and therefore it is powerless till the number 3 forms the triangle. Thus this Sephira completes and makes evident the supernal Trinity. It is also called AMA, Ama, Mother, and AIMA, Aima , the great productive Mother, who is eternally conjoined with AB, the Father, for the maintenance of the universe in order. Therefore is she the most evident form in whom we can know the Father, and therefore is she worthy of all honour. She is the supernal Mother, co-equal with Chokmah, and the great feminine form of God, the Elohim, in whose image man and woman are created, according to the teaching of the Qabalah, equal before God . Woman is equal until man, and certainly not inferior to him, as it has been the persistent endeavour of so-called Christians to make her. Aima is the woman described in the Apocalypse (ch. xii.). This third Sephira is also sometimes called the Great Sea. To her are attributed the Divine names, ALHIM, Elohim , and IHYH ALHIM ; and the angelic order, ARALIM, Aralim , the Thrones. She is the supernal Mother, as distinguished from Malkuth, the inferior Mother, Bride, and Queen.
- 45. The number 4. This union of the second and third Sephiroth produced ChSD, Chescd , Mercy or Lovey also called GDYLH, Gedulah, Greatness or Magnificence ; a masculine potency represented by the Divine Fame AL, El , the Mighty One, and the angelic name, ChShMLIM, Chashmalim , Scintillating Flames (Ezek.
- iv. 4).
46. The number 5 . From this emanated the feminine' passive potency GBYRH, Geburah , strength or fortitude ; or DIN, Deen , Justice ; represented by the Divine Names, ALHIM GBYR, and ALH, Eloh , and the angelic name ShRPIM, Seraphim (Isa. vi. 6). This Sephira is also called PChD, Pacliad , Fear.
47. The number 6. And from these two issued the uniting Sephira, ThPARTh, Tipliereth , Beauty or Mildness, represented by the Divine Name ALYH YDOTh, Eloali
2 6
KABBALAH.
Va-Daath , and the angelic names, Shinanim , ShNANIM (Ps. lxviii. 1 8), or MLKIM, Melakim , kings. Thus by the union of justice and mercy we obtain beauty or •clemency, and the second trinity of the Sephiroth is complete. This Sephira, or “ Path,” or u Numeration ” — for by these latter appellations the emanations are sometimes called — together with the fourth, fifth, seventh, •eighth, and ninth Sephiroth, is spoken of as ZOIR ANPIN, Zauir Anpin, the Lesser Countenance, or Microprosopus, by way of antithesis to Macroprosopus, or the Vast Countenance, which is one of the names of Kether, the first Sephira. The six Sephiroth of which Zauir Anpin is composed, are then called His six members. He is also called MLK, Melekh , the King.
48. The number 7. The seventh Sephira is NTzCh,
, Netzach , or Firmness and Victory, corresponding to the
Divine Name Jehovah Tmbaoth , IHVH TzBAVTh, the
Lord of Armies, and the angelic names ALHIM, Eloliim ,
gods, and ThRShIShIM, Tharshisim , the brilliant ones
(Dan. x. 6).