The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)

49. The number 8. Thence proceeded the feminine passive potency HVD, Hod , Splendour, answering to the Divine Name ALHIM TzBAVTh, Elohim Tzabaoth , the •Gods of Armies, and among the angels to BNI ALHIM, Beni Elohim , the sons of the Gods (Gen. vi. 4).

50. The number 9. These two produced ISVD,
Yesod , the Foundation or Basis, represented by AL ChI,
El Cliai , the Mighty Living One, and ShDI, Shaddai ;
•and among the angels by AShIM, Aisliim , the Flames
(Ps. civ. 4) , yielding the third Trinity of the Sephiroth.

51. The number 10. From this ninth Sephira came the tenth and last, thus completing the decad of the numbers. It is called MLKVTh, Malhutli , the Kingdom, and also the Queen, Matrona, the inferior Mother, the Bride of Microprosopus ; and ShKINH, Shekinah , represented by the Divine Name Adonai , ADNI, and among the angelic hosts by the kerubim, KRVBIM. Now, each of these Sephiroth will be in a certain degree androgynous, for

INTRODUCTION,

it will be feminine or receptive with regard to the Sephira which immediately precedes it in the sephirotic scale, and masculine or transmissive with regard to the Sephira which immediately follows it. But there is no Sephira anterior to Kether, nor is there a Sephira which succeeds Malkuth. By these remarks it will be understood how Chokmah is a feminine noun, though marking a masculine Sephira. The connecting-link of the Sephiroth is the Buach, spirit, from Mezla, the hidden influence.

52. I will now add a few more remarks on the qabalistical meaning of the term MThQLA, Metheqela , balance. In each of the three trinities or triads of the Sephiroth is a duad of opposite sexes, and a uniting intelligence which is the result. In this, the masculine and feminine potencies are regarded as the two scales of the balance, and the uniting Sephira as the beam which joins them. Thus, then, the term balance may be said to symbolize the Triune, Trinity in Unity, and the Unity represented by the central point of the beam. But, again, in the Sephiroth there is a triple Trinity, the upper, lower, and middle. Now, these three are represented thus : the supernal, or highest, by the Crown, Kether; the middle by the King, and the inferior by the Queen ; which will be the greatest trinity. And the earthly correlatives of these will be the primum mobile , the sun and the moon. Here we at once find alchemical symbolism.

5 3. Now in the world the Sephiroth are represented by :

(1) BAShITh HGLGLIM, Rashith Ra-Galgalim , the commencement of whirling motions, the primum mobile.

(2) MSLVTh, Masloth , the sphere of the Zodiac.

(3) ShBThAI, Shabbathai , rest, Saturn.

(4) TzDQ, Tzedeq , righteousness, Jupiter.

(5) MADIM, Madim , vehement strength, Mars.

(6) ShMSh, Shemesli , the solar light, the Sun.

(7) NYGH, Nogah , glittering splendour, Yenus.

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KABBALAH.

(8) KYKB, Kokab , tlie stellar light, Mercurv.

(9) LBNH, Levanah , the lunar flame, the Moon.

(10) ChLM ISYDYTh, Cliolom Ycsodoth , the breaker of the foundations, the elements.

54. The Sephiroth are further divided into three pillars — the right-hand Pillar of Mercy, consisting of the second, fourth, and seventh emanations ; the left-hand Pillar of Judgment, consisting of the third, fifth, and eighth ; and the middle Pillar of Mildness, consisting of the first, sixth, ninth, and tenth emanations.

55. In their totality and unity the ten Sephiroth represent the archetypal man, ADM QDMYN, Adam Qadmon , the Protogonos. In looking at the Sephiroth constituting the first triad, it is evident that they represent the intellect ; and hence this triad is called the intellectual world, OYLM MYShKL, Olahm MevshcJcal. The second triad corresponds to the moral world, OYLM MYRGSh, Olahm Morgash. The third represents power and stability, and is therefore called the material world, OYLM HMYTBO, Olahm Ha-Memfbau. These three aspects are called the faces, ANPIN, Anpin. Thus is the tree of life, OTz ChIIM, Otz Chaiim, formed ; the first triad being placed above, the second and third below, in such a manner that the three masculine Sephiroth are on the right, the three feminine on the left, whilst the four uniting Sephiroth occupy the centre. This is the qabalistical “ tree of life,” on which all things depend. There is considerable analogy between this and the tree Yggdrasil of the Scandinavians.