Kabbalah Portions -I

  Kabbalah Self-study I

   Worlds of Light, how Ohr Ein Sof (the infinite divine Light) expands and creates the worlds (Olam). In tradition of Kabbalah the concept of Spiritual worlds (worlds of divine Light) is quite important. The light is perceived as spread of divine qualities and divine essence from the creator to the Creation (worlds). First world was created as a vessel of Light, that expands with divinity.

I.               Willing to receive Ohr Ein Sof – (quality of fullness with Light) – Atziluth. This world means Emanation, the light is totally filled the vessel (kli). The divine light is united with the Source-Creator. Related Sephira here is Chochma (Wisdom). Everything looks as oneness in this Olam Atziluth. Light and creator are one, inseparable, but still the created Vessel exists.

II.                 Willing to bestow Ohr Ein Sof – quality of need for emptiness – The vessel returns the received Light, as an act of need to bestow. But as the vessel does not have this ability, it simply stops to receive and pushes away the divine Light. Here is the second Spiritual world – Beriah – world of Creation. The vessel now creates the empty space inside itself. This is called “creation from nothing”. Nothing was inside infinite light – or void, empty space. Briah is the divine Throne. This world is connected with the spiritual sphere (sefira) Binah (Understanding), also Divine intellect, “Higher garden of Eden”. Here is the first created space where Archangels live since the beginning of creation – they are made of direct divine Light from the source Ein Sof. They are eternal and unchanged. The letter correspondence in Briah is “hei” in Tetragrammaton. The element here is Water, soul level – Neshamah.

III.              Olam Yetzira – Formation – willing of the vessel (worlds like cups) to bestow and to receive in the same time. This is the stage where creation received shape and form. Basic elements are formed here. This world is connected to the divine Sefirot – Chesed, Geburah, Tiferet, Netzah, Hod, Yesod. All of them have desire to receive and to give in the same time. They are called “microposopus”. Its known as the seat of emotions. In Yetzira good and evil exist as concepts and active forces to deal with. They are also measurements on the achieving personal qualities and perfection. In this world souls and angels abide, we know the world by direct communion or prayer to God, or by studying Torah. Finite and non everlasting angels live here, unlike infinite archangels in Briah. Correspondences in this world are: letter “vav” in name of Tetragrammaton. The element Air, the soul level – ruach, emotions and speech, Seraphim, “Lower garden of Eden”.

IV.              Olam Assiah – world of Action – This is the level of completeness. The creation now does not receive direct light in its Vessel from Ein Sof. The Light source is comprehended not by given senses, but with thought and intimate communion. This is spiritual level, but the Light here is again “concealed”, as the function of creation itself is to “create”. In other words –creation wants to become similar or closer to the qualities of Creator, by process of creating “worlds”. Assiah is world of sefira Malchut (Kingship). It is divided into 2 parts – spiritual world of angels – helpers of physical created creatures; and 2. physical manifestation of creation (assiah Gashmi) (our world including humans). Correspondences are: the final letter is divine name “hei” in Tertagrammaton, sefira Malchut, element Earth, soul level –Nefesh (soul garment of action), The Shechinah. Here the spiritual Assiah is ruled by Ofanim, they help humans and fight evil. The main angel here is Sandalphon. In Assiah there are 10 heavens and all the physical creations. World of actions, making and Effects. Corresponding to Pentacles in Tarot.

V.                Adam Kadmon – this is the world of human primordial Soul (or human as potential), that is still united with the creator –Ein Sof. Adam Kadmon is different from Adam ha Rishon (the physical manifestation of human and humanity). As it is still transcendental, abiding in the full light of God, it is not part of the worlds of Light. It is before creation and still emanation of God, not creation process. This is world of infinite potential, associated with sefira Keter (Crown), that stands above all Tree of Life.

( from – study on Lurianic Kabbalah, and general concepts) 

nina Lea-nour *