The Kabbalah Unveiled — S. L. MacGregor Mathers (from Knorr von Rosenroth's Latin) (1887)
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f Or, AVRKA DANPIN, Aurilcha Da- Anpin, the Yast Countenance.
n8
KABBALAH.
or Him "Who hath, the Lesser Countenance ( Microproso - pus), in opposition to the Ancient Eternal Holy One, the Holy of the Holy Ones.
5 5 . And when Microprosopus looketh hack upon Him, all the inferiors are restored in order, and His Countenance is extended, and is made more vast at that time, but not for all time (then only is it), vast like unto the (countenance) of the More Ancient One.
5 6. And from that skull issueth a certain white shining emanation, towards the skull of Microprosopus, for the purpose of fashioning His head ; and thence towards the other inferior skulls, which are innumerable.
57. And all the skulls reflect this shining whiteness towards the Ancient of Days,* when they are numbered out of their mingled confusion. And by reason of this there existeth herein an opening towards the skull below, when they proceed to numeration.
CHAPTER XI.
CONCERNING THE MEMBRANE OF THE BRAIN OF
MACROPROSOPES.
58. In the hollow of the skull is the aerial membrane of the supreme hidden Wisdom, which is nowhere disclosed ; and it is not found, and it is not opened.
59. And that membrane enshroudeth the brain of the hidden Wisdom, and therefore is that Wisdom covered, because it is not opened through that membrane.
60. And that brain, which is itself the hidden Wisdom, is silent and remaineth tranquil in its place, like good wine upon its lees.
6 1 . And this is that which they say : — Hidden is the
* Macroprosopus.
THE GEE A TEE HOLY ASSEMBLY.
science of the Ancient One, and His brain is calm and concealed.
6 2 . And that membrane hath an outlet towards Microprosopus, and on that account is His brain extended, and goeth forth by thirty and two paths.*
63. This is that same thing which is written : “ And a river went forth out of Eden ” (Gen. ii. 7). But for what reason ? Because the membrane is (then) opened, neither doth it (completely) enshroud the brain.
64. Nevertheless the membrane is opened from below. And this is that which we have said : Among the signatures of the letters (is) ThV, Tau , Th ; nevertheless He impresseth it as the sign of the Ancient of Days, from Whom dependeth the perfection of knowledge, because He is perfect on every side, and hidden, and tranquil, and silent, like as good wine upon its lees.
CHAPTER VII.
CONCERNING THE HAIR OF MACROPROSOPU3.
65. This is the tradition. From the skull of His Bead hang down a thousand thousand myriads ; seven thousand and five hundred curling hairs, white and pure, like as wool when it is pure ; which have not been mingled confusedly together lest inordinate disorder should be shown in His conformation ; but all are in order, so that no one lock may go beyond another lock, nor one hair before another.
66. And in single curls are four hundred and ten locks
* Which are the thirty-two paths of the Sepher Yetzirak, or Book of Formation ; symbolized by the ten numbers ; and twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
KABBALAH.
of hair, according unto the number of the word, QDYSh, Qaclosch , Holy.*
67. But these hairs, all and singular, radiate into four hundred and ten worlds.
68. But these worlds alone are hidden and concealed, and no man knoweth them, save Himself.
69. And He radiate th in seven hundred and twenty directions ( others say four hundred and twenty).
70. And in all the hairs is a fountain, which issueth from the hidden brain behind the wall of the skull.
7 1 . And it shineth and goeth forth through that hair unto the hair of Microprosopus, and from it is His brain formed ; and thence that brain goeth forth into thirty and two paths.
72. And each curl radiateth and hangeth down arranged in beautiful form, and adorned with ornament, and they enshroud the skull.
7 3 . But the curls of the hair are disposed on each sido of the skull.
74. Also we have said : Each hair is said to be the breaking of the hidden fountains, issuing from the concealed brain.
75. Also this is the tradition: From the hair of a man it is known what he is, whether rigorous or merciful, when he passeth over forty years ; thus also when he is perfect in hair, in beard, and in the eyebrows of his eyes.
76. The curls of His hair hang down in order, and pure like unto {pure) wool, even unto His shoulders. Say we unto His shoulders ? Nevertheless, even unto the rise of His shoulders, so that His neck may not be seen, because of that which is written, Jer. ii. 27 : “ Because they have turned away from Me the neck and not the face.