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

[I have defined “ balance ” in the Introduction, § 29, which see. The “ path of the foundation ” is of course Yesod, the ninth Sephira, while the queen is Malkuth, the tenth. Yesod is therefore the connecting link between Microprosopus and the bride. The letter I “ bringeth up the rearguard as it were ” in the name ADNI, Adonai, because it is the last letter. Ezek. i. 14 : the Qabalists by the term ChIYTh HQDSh, Ghaioth Ha-Qadesch, the Holy Living- Creatures, understand the letters of the Tetragrammaton. With regard to the “ letters of the Tetragrammaton, which sometimes hold the last place and sometimes the first,” the following are two examples — namely, as in the form IHVI, Yod, He, Vau, Yod, the letter I, Yod, is both at the beginning and end of the word ; and in the form which is more usual IHYH, Yod, He, Vau, He, the letter H, He, is in the second and last place.]

34. Like as it is written: “ And the Elohim saw the substance of the light, that it was good.” (Here a reason is adduced from the proposed text itself, showing how the last letter of this form of the Tetragrammaton, namely, I, Yod , may be said to symbolize the bride, since

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God himself might behold in that light the path of conjunctive foundation, which the word “goodness” pointeth out ; but when the foundation is in the act of conjunction— that is, under the idea of communicating goodness — there then is the bride. But also that the word u goodness” denoteth the foundation is proved from Isa. iii. i o, where it is said), “ Say ye unto the righteous man” (that is, to the path of foundation, because the first man is said to be the foundation of the world, Prov. x. 25), “that it shall be well with him.” Therefore, then, do they ascend within the equilibrium. (That is, these two letters, I, Yod , and H, He, mean one and the same thing. Or again : But behold, how in balanced power ascend the letters of Tetragrammaton. That is, how those letters agree when in conjunction, which before were standing separated in the word VIHI, Vayehi.)

[The “ path of foundation ” is of course the ninth Sephira, Yesod, which is the sixth member of Microprosopu3 (see section 16, foregoing), and typifies reproductive power. Malkuth is the queen. We must remember that in the Tetragrammaton, IHVH, I, Yod, is the father (who is not Macroprosopus, though he is implied therein, as the top point of the Hebrew letter Yod is said to symbolize him) ; H, He, the supernal mother ; Y, Van, the son (Microprosopus) ; and H, He, final, the bride (the queen). And this is their proper order. Other variations of the Tetragrammaton, therefore, alter the position of the letters with regard to each other ; their normal and correct position being IHVH.]

35. (Whilst the spouse, Microprosopus) was at first alone (he was standing by, whilst the letter Y, Van, occupied the first place, then was he separated from his bride). But all things returned into the unity. (That is, not only were father and mother conjoined into one, because the two letters, I, Yod, and H, He, were combined ; but also the Microprosopus returned to his bride, whilst V, Vau, was placed next to I, Yod, in the Tetragrammaton, IHVI, Yahevi. For) Y, Vau, descendeth (when in the word VIHI, Vayehi , “ and it was done,” it occupieth the first

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place; but in the proposed metathesis, it descended into thethird place, in order that it might be IHVI, Yahevi). And they are bound together the one to the other (male and female, Y, Vau , and I, Yod, the path of beauty and the queen), namely, I, Yod , and H, He (by which are shown wisdom and knowledge, father and mother), like unto two lovers who embrace each other. (By two lovers are understood either V, Vau , and I, Yod only — that is, at > the end ; or I, Yod , and H, He , together — that is, at the beginning).

[The “path of beauty,” or Tiphereth, the sixth Sephira, is sometimes represented by Y, Vau , and therefore sometimes stands for Microprosopus by itself ; it is really the central Sephira of the group of six Sephiroth which compose him. The numerical value of Vau is 6.]