Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

TheNeophyte Grade 59
SECTION 5: The Sephiroth
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The Hebrew Qabalists referred the highest and most abstract
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ideas to ten emanations of deity which are called the Sephiroth
_ (sef-eer-oth), Singularly they are called Sephirah. When arranged
.. in a certain manner, the ten Sephiroth and the twenty-two paths
which connect them form the Tree of Life. Together, the Ten Sephiroth
and the Twenty-two Paths comprise what are called the
Thirty-twoPaths of Wisdom.
The Tree of Life is the single most important symbol of the Qabalah. Just a
glance at its diagramwill reveal it to be a system of perfect mathematics, symmetry,
and beauty. It is represented as ten circles or orbs known as the Sephiroth, which is
said to mean "Numbers," "Spheres" and "Emanations."21 Some have seen the
Sephiroth as divine powers or vessels. Others regard them as divine tools or instruments
of the Eternal (although notseparated from the Eternal like human tools are).
All agree, however, that the Sephiroth express divine attributions or essences that
are organized into an archetypal pattern which is the model for everything that has
come into the manifest universe. The relationships implied in the Tree of Life underscore
the whole of existence, and so the attributes of the Sephiroth may be found in
any branch of knowledge. Although their basic definition confirms them as characteristics
of the Divine, they can be described in terms of human experience because
men and women are formed as stated before, in the image of the Divine.
One essential aspect of the Sephiroth is that they are placed upon the Tree
of Life in perfect juxtaposition, so that each Sephirah counterbalances one on the
opposite side of the Tree. The ten Sephiroth emanate from the Three Negative Veils
of Existence (various abstract stages of "nothingness") in succession as if "one candle
were lit from another without the Emanator being diminished in any way"
and in a specific order. They are not seen as being separated from the Source. The
Qabalists agree that there are ten because ten is a perfect number, one which
includes every digit without repetition, and contains the total essence of all numbers.
The number ten is therefore an all-embracing number. Outside of ten there
exists no other such number, because what is beyond ten returns again to units.
The Pillars
The most important configuration which occurs on the Tree is that of threepillars
formed by the natural succession of the Sephiroth. The left-hand pillar, also called
the Pillar ofSeverity, consists of the spheres of Binah, Geburah, and Hod. The righthand
pillar, known as the Pillar ofMercy, is comprised of the spheres of Chokmah,
Chesed, and Netzach. The central spheres of Kether, Tiphareth, Yesod, and
Malkuth form the Middle Pillar, or the Pillar ofMildness.
The right-hand or white pillar is described as masculine, positive and
active. It is also known as the Pillar of Force. The left-hand or black pillar is feminine,
negative and passive. This pillar is called the Pillar of Form. The black and
21 The word Sephirah is derived from the root word 'JlC, from which come sepher-"book," siphar­
"number," sippur-"story," and sipper-"to tell."