Gematria - Sepher Sapphires Volume 1.pdf

VI. Eight is called the Dominica1 Number, or
number of Christ, because 888 is Iqoou5. lesous.
Jesus. It is also a symbol for the Holy Spirit,
sometimes described as a feminine potency. Note
that in Key 1 and 8 the number 8 (infinity sign)
placed horizontally or feminine, position. See
888.
VII. Eight symbolizes that all opposites are
effects of a single cause, and that balanced,
reciprocal action and reaction between opposites
results in harmony. Pythagoras called 8
Harmonia. This is a doctrine that should be put
into practical application.
VIII. The extension of 8 is 36 [C8 = 361. 36 is
6x6 the magic square (see Appendix 6) of
Tiphareth and is a symbol of the perfected
!
expression of the One E o (Tiphareth, the 6Ih
Sephirah). Note that the 8' Sephirah of the Tree
of Life is Hod (Mercury). Its color is orange
attributed to The Sun (Tiphareth). The color of
Tiphareth is yellow attributed to Mercury (Hod).
IX. "I look forward with confidence, to the
perfect realization of the eternal Splendor [Hod]
of the limitless light." [8" saying of the Pattern
on the Trestleboard]
n Cheth. Fence, field; the eighth Hebrew letter
assigned to Cancer, the intelligence of the House
of influence, to The Chariot, Key 7 in the Tarot
and to the direction east-below on the Cube of
Space, as well as to alchemical separation (95,
1360). It is the sign or symbol for the faculty of
speech.
I. The character for Cheth is similar to that for
Heh, but the line on the left is joined to the cross
bar. This character is a combination of Daleth
and Vav, implying its concealed numerical value
is 10. By this number Cheth refers to the letter
Yod, and also Malkuth, the Kingdom, of loth
Sephirah. It is a sign of the combination of the 4"'
(Daleth) and 6th Sephiroth (Vav), Mercy and
Beauty.
11. The letter Cheth means a field, fence or
palisade (a line of steep lofty cliffs usually along
a river). This implies inclosure. This field can be
the manifested universe, but in man is the
personality. The One Self sets aside a particular
point in space and time to cultivate the personal
ego.
24
Ill. Rabbi Ginsburgh: "Cheth is used in technic,al
terms to refer to drawing forth knowledge hidden
in the subconsciousness, to the elucidation of
mysteries, to the bringing of concealed meanings
to the surface. "The form of the letter Cheth
resembles a gateway. Through a gateway one
enters and exits. One enters into an inner realm
or chamber, a deeper state of awareness, a truer
level of experience. One exits to return to one's
pervious, stable state of existence, infused with
the light of one's new experience." [The Ale:f-
Beit,]
IV. Paul Case: "Since the Phoenicians carried
their alphabets to the great centers of civilization
in the ancient world, most of the symbols have
undergone many alterations. To this rulle,
however, Cheth the eighth letter, as a notable
exception. In the oldest records it consists of
two, upright, joined by either two or three cross-
bars. The Phoenician pictograph probabily
represented field, surrounded by a rectangular
fence. It therefore suggest the same notions of
particular location, enclosure, and specialized
effort which are associated with the letter Beth.
We may expect, on this account, to learn that the
Tarot trump to be considered in this chapter
symbolizes the same root ideas that are brought
to mind by the picture of the magician. All
cabalistic interpretations of Cheth agree that the
letter stands for something that necessitales
labor. Fabre D'Olivet was not always certain of
his philology, but he was a thorough kabbalist;
so that, while we must nearly always reject his
views as a alphabetical origins we can often
accept his explanation of the esoteric
significance of the Hebrew letters. He says of
Cheth: "This letter is the sign of the e1ementa.t-y
existence; it is the image of a kind of
equilibrium, and attaches itself to ideas of effa'rt,
of labor, and of normal and legislative action. It
is a symbol of that which requires the
expenditure of strength of power; and it impl~ies
that the energy so used is directed to a definite
end.
Behind all these notions is the idea that the field
stands in opposition to the worker. At the
beginning of his labors it presents difficulti,:s,
even dangers. In its original state it gives trouble.
It offers problems and puzzles that must be
solved and mastered. After it has been brought
under control it co-operates, in a manner of
speaking, with the worker; but first of all it must
be overcome by 'normal and legislative action.'