Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

The Zelator Grade 155
The Divine Names Attributed to the Sephiroth
Each of the Sephiroth has assigned to it various Divine Names known as the Hierarchies.r'
This list of Divine, Archangelic, and Angelic names is based upon the different
divine levels of Being as defined by the Four Qabalistic Worlds. 42
The Atziluthic or Divine Name represents the highest spiritual form of a
specific Sephirah.
The Briatic Titleis the name of an Archangel who organizes the forces intrinsic
to a specific Sephirah and the direction of the activating forces that come under
its authority. Archangels are actual beings without physical form, although representations
of them in art come from the inventions of the human mind, which needs
anthropomorphic images in order to enhance understanding. The true form of an
Archangel would be similar to a great pillar of energy or a geometric shape that concurs
with the individual Sephirah.
The Yetziratic Title is the name of a group of Angels who are responsible
for the actual mechanics or workings of a Sephirah.
In magic these divisions can be likened to an army; at the top is the Commander-in-Chief,
who holds a Divine (Atziluth) title. Under him is a general
known as an Archangel (Briah) who commands various legions. These legions are
made up of numerous footsoldiers known as Angels (Yetzirah). (Note: In the
Golden Dawn's system of magic, if you want something done, you go straight to
the top and petition the Divine or Atziluthic Name and work your way down the
Hierarchy from there. The Highest must always be invoked first.)
Divine Names:
EHEIEH (n~nH): The deity name of Kether which means "1 am." This name indicates
the inhaling and exhaling of the breath, alluding to the idea that Kether is the
root from which all begins and to which all returns. The letters of the name, Aleph
Heh Yod Heh yield further meanings; Aleph indicates the beginning or initial outpouring
of force, Heh is the stabilizing factor or receptacle, Yod symbolizes the fertilizing
principle, and the final Heh is the stabilizing factor and resulting manifestation.
The whole word thus encompasses the idea of increasing manifestation. It
is the first and the last-the heart of everything-the first living breath of God and
the last breath of Being.
41 This part of the Knowledge Lecture was originally divided up and taught in the grades of Theoricus
and Practicus. Today the Ord,er includes this information (and the following section on the
Planetary hierarchies) 'in the Zelator grade. In our own temple, we have divided these lists uphaving
parts of them distributed among the Knowledge Lectures of other grades: Zelator-Atziluthic
(Divine) Names, Theoricus-Briatic (Archangelic) Names, and Practicus-Yetziratic (Angelic
Choir) names. We have found that students take more easily to this approach; retaining the memorized
names better, due to the fact that they automatically review the previous information concerning
the Hierarchies for each new Knowledge Lecture. The reader of this book is free to choose
whichever one of these approaches best suits his/her ability to learn the material, so long as in the
end the list is committed to memory.
42 Regardie suggested that the student draw several Trees of Life and place upon them the Divine
Names in their proper order.