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

41. (He is therefore called) the supernal Y, Van .(Daath or knowledge, and) the inferior Y, Vau (that is, the external Microprosopus. And thus also) the supernal H, He (the mother), the inferior H, He (the bride). But I, Yod, is above all (symbolizing the father), and with him is none other associated ; he is I, Yod, as at first ; neither ascendeth he in himself (through the height of the numeration, like as with H, He, the

THE BOOK OF CONCEALED MYSTERY.

pentad, with Vau, the hexad, ascend to a similar height) except as a symbolic glyph. (That is, the decad, which is expressed not in that same letter I, Yod, but by a hexad and a tetrad.)

[But Vau, V, is produced by adding the numerical values of I and H (the father and the mother of the Tetragrammaton), and then taking the least number of the result, thus: I+H = 10+5 = 15, and by adding the digits of 15 together, 1 + 5, we obtain 6 = Y, Vau. By the phrase “ with H, He, the pentad (5), with V, Vau, the hexad (6), ascend,” is implied the numerical value of those letters taken as symbolical sephirotic glyphs. The decad is repeated in the word I YD, Yod, by the addition of the last two letters, Y and D, which =6+4 = 10, 1, Yod, again.]

42. For when the double forms are manifested (namely, the letters of the name in the above proposed form, as HH and YY) and are united in one path, in one combination, in order that they may be explained (that is, when they are fully written out in the. above manner), then YD, Vau , Daleth (and not another I, Yod), are added unto I, Yod (so that also in it there may be a certain hidden analogy of the equilibrium).

43. Woe ! woe ! when this is taken away, and when the other two alone are manifested (that is, when from those two letters YD, in the word I YD, the letter I is taken away ; seeing it representeth the abstraction of the father from the Microprosopus and his bride, who are as yet hidden in the mother, so that the disclosure of these two is vain and abortive, because the generative power of the father is absent * *) * * *. (Or, in another sense, if the influx be hindered and the supernal paths suffer disruption). Far, far from us be that effect !

44. (But that this may be done by the sins of the
inferiors is clear from those words) Ezek. i. 14 :
u And the living creatures rush forth and return.”
Also Num. *xxiv. 1 1 : “ Flee unto thy place.” Also
Obad. i. 4 : “ Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle.

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KABBALAH.

and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I cast thee down.”

45. (Again it is said) Gen. i. 12: “And the earth brought forth germination.” . When ? When the name is planted therein (that is, when Microprosopus receiveth his proper conformation, according to the requisite numbers — 248 of the members, and 365 of the veins.)

[These numbers, 248 and 365, are formed by an elaborate combination of Gematria, too complicated to enter upon here.]

46. And then the wind bloweth (that is, the vital influx rusheth forth from Macroprosopus) and the spark of flame is prepared (that is, Microprosopus, who, great as he is, yet is in respect of the superiors only as a spark compared with fire, as he is produced from that terrific light.)

47. And amid the insupportable brilliance of that mighty light, as it were, the likeness of a head appeareth. (That is, the highest crown is found in Macroprosopus.)

48. And above him is the plenteous dew, diverse with twofold colour. (Like as in Macroprosopus it is white alone, so here it is white and red, on account of thejudgments. See “ Idra Kabba,” § 44.)

[Above Microprosopus, not Macroprosopus.]

49. Three hollow places are manifested, wherein the letters are expressed. (These are to be understood as symbolizing his threefold brain, of wisdom, understanding,, and knowledge, which here appear more plainly ; whereas in the supernals they are more concealed.)

[“ The letters,” that is, IHV, the first three letters of the Tetragrammaton.]