Kabbalah portions V

Binah – Understanding – Reason – Intelligence

    Binah is the feminine energy sephira, situated below Keter (Crown) on the left side of the Tree. Binah planet is Saturn. (Supernal mother, the Womb). Binah is the first sephira after the abyss, beginning of Spiritual realm. Binah forms a triad with Khohma and Keter balancing aspects of three forces: Spiritual awareness and love (Binah), Spiritual will and purpose (Khohma), and infinite realized Self (keter).

   Binah is sephira of unconditional love (of angels and God);

Angelic realm in Binah – Azrael, Seraphiel – archangels of transition.

Binah is situated in the primary world of Briah (Creation) and represents the divine intellect and feminine power of the creation. Binah is the initial Breath, it implies good and little evil potential.

Potentials of Binah: developing self-control, control of feelings, silence, seeing things in their real light (objectivity), compassion and understanding.

Binah manifest itself as rational intelligence, science, research, rational philosophy, writers; developers; In Binah hidden pattern of the universe reveals and achieves form, while the sephira Khohma is still formless.

Binah color is light, or absence of light (darkness); white and black.

Fragrance of magical associations of Binah- Myrrh

Gods – goddesses of Binah are: Maya, Shakti, Juno, Virgin Mary

Binah human organ is: left eye, left part of brain – heart

Binah is linked with intuitive understanding, palace of “mirrors”, that reflects the pure wisdom of Chohma, giving it new form. It increases and multiplies the wisdom in many different ways. Binah gives a shape to the formless.

In Bahir (book of Illumination) is stated: “For you shall call Understanding a Mother.” Binah has two partzufim (aspects) – the higher is “Imma Ila`ah (the higher mother) and lower is “tevunah” – comprehension.

The name of God in Binah: Jehova Elohim

Angelic hierarchy: Aralim (Thrones)

Quality that human need to achieve in power of Binah is: full repentance

(acc. to Rabbi Moses Cordovero in “Tomer Devorah”)

Binah is conceptual analysis and reasoning, inductive and deductive.

This sephira is quite important in understanding the truth and recognizing the falsehood in any idea.

Binah is derived from the Hebrew word “bein” meaning “between”. That’s refers to distinguishing between different ideas, between true and false; positive or negative.

There is eternal union between Binah (higher Mother) and Khohma (higher Father) that are never separated.

The spiritual state of Binah is that of Joy (simchah).

Binah is the mother, giving birth to all down sephirot from the Tree of Life, giving form, thought and distinguishing in all levels and worlds. 

nina Lea-nour *

Kabbalah portions IV

     Sephira Chohma – Wisdom

    The two sephira (spheres) situated under Keter in the mystic Tree of life are: Chohma and Binah (Wisdom and Understanding). They both are related to concept of Ajna (Third eye chakra), intuition, seeing the world beyond the veil.

Chohma is associated with: Wisdom, inner knowing, revelation, memory, Light, brain, skull, mindfulness; It is in the zone of conscious intellect.

Chohma forms a triad – triangle with Keter and Binah – the sacred symbol of arch. Michael, of knowing God and universe, higher consciousness, transcendent mind. It also can be read as symbol for the Christian Holy Trinity (God Father, Son and Holy spirit).

    This sephira represents human eyes – right eye – seeing hidden truth of the Universe, connecting with God through devotion and rituals. Color of Chohma is silver gray or indigo-blue.

   Chohma within the universal map of Tree is the first conscious intellect, first sparkle of existence in Creation. It is Oceanic consciousness, spiritual will and purpose. Chohma accepts the will of Creator as Father (Ab), and transform it into vast wisdom, which is formless. It takes her shape by connecting with Binah (Understanding).

Chohma is potential for development, purpose and manifestation of universal laws, genius, logos, pure spirit, transformation. It is the first manifestation of Ein Soph with the ideal plan for the worlds.

    The sacred name of God in Chohma is: Yah

Wisdom is in the right axis corresponds to tzelem Elohim – to the right eye and right brain.

Two partzufim (faces, aspects) of Chohma are: Abba Ila`ah (Higher father) and Ysrael Saba –Israel the Elder.

It is related to conscious mind, connecting with spiritual realm, visualizations and dreams; Chohma is intuition, finding seeds of truth in the universal laws, feeling the invisible forces of spiritual realm. In such way it is endless and formless.

Chohma is wisdom before words and language. That’s why this sephira is endless and does not differentiate between good and evil.

The human mind in Chohma is not quite aware, as it is impossible for him to grasp the unlimited Wisdom.

Chohma may be interpreted as “the potential to be”, derived from “koach” potential and “ma” (what is). In connection with Keter Chohma emerges from “nothingness” (Zohar II, 121a) if we see the infinite light of Ein Sof as nothingness (emptiness). This is the primordial ocean, the Will of God, the first spark of creation.

In the Zohar Chohma is accepted as “power of selflessness” – it is in state and ability to taste the Divinity through virtue of “selflessness”. When we realize that all things created are One and united as one; in this point we are all part of One Universe, one creation.

Chohma is the first power of conscious intellect inside Creation.

Fragrance : Musk

Gods: Posseidon, Neptune

Planet: Neptune

More information and reference you can find here:

 The ten Sephirot (inner.org )

nina Lea-nour *

Kabbalah portions -III

I start observing ten sefirots – emanations of divine Light- in more details.

I. Sefira Keter (Crown) – Aleph, Bet – Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh

    This is the first and highest sefira from the Tree of Life. It stands above as a crown of all creation. Book of Zohar calls Keter “the most hidden of all hidden things”. Keter is invisible for humans eyes, that’s why is often presented in pictures as “colorless” or with pale pearl color. Even though the true color of Keter is light golden shine. It represents – the infinite Light of God, corresponds to planet Pluto, in body it is Sahasrara – Crown chakra (lavender, golden white)

    As position of the crown is above the head, that identifies the first sefira with things that are above our human perception, above ability to comprehend. We are limited being and abide in world that is also limited, changing. In the same time Keter is limitless, unchanged, endless, infinite source of Light. Keter represents the first arising desire of God to create worlds. This is the unlimited potential of divine intention. But desire is still not a “change” and don’t move in any direction. So Keter is still in absolute stillness, “hidden light”, behind the veil of all worlds.

In this sense Keter is absolute compassion.

    The name of God that he reveals in front of Moses from the burning bush, is name known in Keter – Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh –this first name means “I am that I Am.” From this name all emanations of worlds start. Keter is connected directly with three sefirot – Wisdom (Chochma), Understanding (Binah), Knowledge (Daat) and Beauty (Tiferet). That means all of these divine qualities have their full potential within Keter – the Crown. Keter as the invisible, impossible to know divine Light, is connected and contains aspects of all other sefirot – specially the Earth Kingdom  -Malkut.

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero describes Keter as “13 Supernal attributes of Mercy”.

The essence of Keter is “Faith”

 * Keter balances three forces – Spiritual love and awareness (Binah), Spiritual will and purpose (Chochma), and infinite realized self –Keter.

Another correspondence of Keter is Brahman –the Hindu impersonal absolute force. Keter is potential of infinite bliss, enlightenment, divine inspiration, revelation, ecstasy. Kingdom (Malchut) is always connected with the King, wearing a Crown (Keter), that’s how they have inner aspect, each one contains part from another.

Sepher Yetzira (Book of Creation) says:

“The End is buried in the Beginning” – this explains the Keter as a beginning or a cause, while effect is visible in Malchut. In such ways, Keter is masculine force of Universe, that moves, that bestows to other worlds below, Malchut is feminine force that receives the blessings, but that also should give. Keter is the Roots of Tree of life, Malchut is the top and fruits of the kabbalistic Tree.

Color of sefira: light golden shine

Fragrance: ambergris

Name of God: I am that I am

The Tarot cards represents: The Fool, key 0 – cultivating awe

It is connected from with path of letter ALEF from Hebrew alphabet – 11 the path; Gemaria value -1. Crystals – Topaz, Chalcedony

From another side Keter is connection with Binah with key 1 – The Magician in tarot, path 12, gematria value -2, crystals: agate, opal.

Magician represents the principal – as above, so below. The letter of H. alphabet is Bet – means “house” protected personal space; Bet represents contraction of Tzimtzum after Aleph – the infinite constant all filling Light.

In Keter individual raindrop melts in the eternal Sea.

Each sefira corresponds to special inner divine motivation and soul response. Keter reveals the essence of Soul in infinite Light of Faith –Emunah. Keter is also in soul rooted in Delight (unconscious source) – Taanug. The Outer Keter is seen as transcendent Will –or soul expressed through will. In all levels this sefira is unconscious. Keter represents the skull in the physical body.

Keter make us aware of the high divine potential within us, in spiritual level is the source of enlightenment, ability to see the whole picture of life from above, from point of Creator. Keter is too our inner guidance, connection to Higher Self, to the other realms and spiritual worlds. Its in human spiritual purpose inside this life.

Through Keter we can reach God presence fully, can sense the creator and be closer to him. It connects all other aspects and divine qualities in one.

nina Lea-nour *

Kabbalah Portions -II

  In this portion I ll observe the meaning of the Tree of Life and shortly the ten sefirot. What is the meaning of the Tree? What are sefirot, where do they come from?

    I. All the worlds are concealed from men by initial plan of God –Ein Sof the infinite Light. Since the beginning there was just Light filling the whole space. It was only God alone abiding. Then he had the first inner motion – the will to create. God created the first world – imagine it like a sphere inside another sphere, inside another…until time, space and physical reality are created.

     God created a constriction in the middle of His Ein Sof, in such way an empty space or void occurred. As there was no place for creation, the divine force made a space. This given space expanded, and created the Spiritual worlds  -in Kabbalah tradition they are four. Even so the spiritual worlds are encompassed by the Infinite Light – Ein Sof, as God essence is still in the center and on the edge (ends) of the last sphere. In such way the physical world is far away from the center, but also far and in the same time close to the edge of infinite Light – which is outside the World as we perceive as physical”. The worlds are: Atzuluth (emanation, concealed potential of God, masculine principle), Beriah – first creation, feminine principle, Imma –woman, 3.Yetzirah – formation of worlds of good and evil spirits, angels that are helping humans, human emotions, 4. Assiah – action, movement, expansion of worlds – manifestation of spiritual in physical reality and our world. Assiah has spiritual and physical sphere.

Each of this worlds is a huge sphere of Light, that fills the space, and all of them are in the spiritual plane, except the last sphere of Assiah. Each of the worlds encompasses principles, creates angelic presences and angelic hierarchies, and expands infinitely. These worlds are not static, but they continue to move and expand. They contain little spheres of Divine emanation of Light. This light is the plan of existence of Creator, send to all living beings – in form and in shape, in physical bodies or spiritual. In such way the worlds contain the allegorical image of Tree of Life and seforot – the main concept in Kabbalah.

II. Tree of Life ~ Etz ha Chayim

    The tree represents the divine emanations of God and his creation from nothing (ex nihilo). This is the nature of revealed divinity and human soul. The tree consists of ten Spheres called Seforot (numbers, counting), and 22 paths connecting them in well formed shape. Each of the sefirot is emanation of divine qualities, that should be recognized and reached by humans to highest possible degree. In order to do that, the human needs to ascend through spiritual paths – which are the 22 connections.

The Tree is symbol of map of Creation and explains in depths the full meaning of creation and God, with his concealed and revealed aspects.

Most things in the world are concealed from the five senses of humans, as humans are just advanced animal world. They have barrier of their human senses, that prevents them from seeing and observing and accepting the spiritual reality. That’s why there is a barrier between the Sefirot Malchut (Kingship) and all others above. The Tree of life is amazing mirrored view of the universe. Its roots are spiritual worlds and are up in the “higher realms”, its branches and leaves are in the physical reality and our Earth. But the ultimate goal of Kabbalah (and God) is to achieve the desire in each human to be closer to Creator and become creator himself. That means he starts to fill in with divine Light slowly, and his desire for giving (bestowing) love, kindness, strength, beauty (all divine qualities of sefirot) becomes higher. Humans desire to “receive” is also there as we are vessels of Divine light, but the desire decreases with increasing of will of giving.

III. Sefirot – emanation of divine Light Ein Sof ~

10 sefirot are symbols of the divine qualities, or spiritual principles, that should be observed and achieved by men. Tree is representation of process how universes and worlds begin to exist and expand. The space above the first Sefira –Keter is named in Jewish scripts “Ain Sof Aur” – Light without end. Keter is a thought – singularity of the Limitless light. This is the primordial Light. The next is Chochma – wisdom, in which Space and time started to spread. Before that they didn’t exist. This is pure dynamic energy that expands with speed faster than Light. Binah is primordial feminine energy, represented by primordial Waters. Binah receives the energy of Chochmah, nourishing it. Binah is beginning of Time. These three sefirot are the first primordial energies of the Universe – they are Supernal sefirot.

What is the role of the man?

Human beings are seen as the fruit of the Tree of Life, through which the eternal divine essence and energy can express and experience finite form in physical world. The process now is reversed – the human is obliged to trace his existence and aims to reunite again with all divine essences, until it reaches the Infinite Light –Crown, and become one with the Creator. This is the aim of existence.

All sefirot – divine emanations, qualities are:

I.                   Keter – Crown

II.                 Chochma – Wisdom

III.              Binah – understanding

IV.              Chesed – Kindness, love

V.                Gevurah – Severity, Judgment

VI.              Tiferet – Beauty

VII.           Netzah – Strength

VIII.         Hod – Glory, Splendor

IX.             Yessod – Foundation

X.                Malchut – Kingship

As I ll observe later, each sefira has corresponding aspects – angelic being, color, crystal, metals, number, planet, even part of the body. 

nina Lea-nour *

Kabbalah notes -II

Meditation on Hebrew letters (for example Alef, Bet).

Seder Hishtalshelut – the process and way of divine energy (Light) descending from higher worlds (planes) to the lower ones, to be manifested in the physical world.

Kabalah Maasit (Practical Qabbalah) – includes incantations of divine names, inscriptions of names on amulets. (this practices should be avoided from all individuals, who are not spiritually fit or high)

Another important text is Jewish tractate Hagigah.

Medieval scholars of Kabbalah – Nahmanides –(Ramban) 1194-1270

(famous for commentaries on Torah).

~ Bahia ben Asher (the Rabbeinu Behaye)

~ Isaac the Blind (1160- 1235)

~ Adam Rishon – the collective consciousness, soul

Sephirot ~

Sephirot (pl) form of Sephira (sg) are the ten emanations (attributes) of God. Sephirots are 10 channels of infinite divine creative life force (consciousness) thought which the concealed Divine essence is revealed to mankind.

1. Keter (Crown) – essence of divine supreme Will

2. Chohma – Wisdom (in the zone of conscious intellect)

3. Binah – Understanding (in the zone of conscious intellect)

4. Chesed – Kindness (in zone of Primary emotions)

5. Geburah – Severity (Power) – (in zone of Primary emotions)

6. Tiferet – Beauty – in the zone of Primary emotion)

7. Netzah – Victory – in the zone of secondary emotions

8. Hod – Splendor – (Surrender) – in the zone of secondary emotions

9. Yesod – Foundation – in the zone of secondary emotions

10. Malchut – Kingship – vessel to bring action of masculine

There is one additional sephira between the group of Ghohma and Binah – Daat – knowledge;

History and scholars ~

    Kabbalah is believed to have very ancient origins, from the time of Moses. It was actually revealed to him on a mount Sinai, together with the ten commandments from Elohim. Some suggest that there is connection between these commandments and 10 sephirot from tree of Life. The Idea of Kabbalah in this way is completely infused with books of Torah and Judaism.

Kabbalah started its contemporary appearance since 13^th century, when was revealed the book “Zohar” contributed to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. He lived in the ear after destruction of the Second Jewish temple – 70 year BC.

Ein Sof ~

Ein Sof is a central concept in Kabbalah referring to the Endless, infinite source, God creator. Its derived from Ein – nothing, no, Sof –limitation.

Ohr Ein Sof – infinite Light

In Zohar is explained how the God created the universes before the process of creation. “He was alone, without form and without resemblance of anything else. Who then can comprehend how he was before the creation?” … “But after he created the form of the Heavenly Man, He used him as a chariot wherein to descend, and he wishes to be called after his form, which is the sacred name YHWH.”

In this view Ein Sof is seen as “nameless God”, that transcend the mind and efforts to be comprehended.

Gershom Sholem explains that Ein Sof (infinite Source) is emanation of the ten sephirot. The process of creation started before the time with “Ayin” – nothing.

Then it came “Ein Sof” – endless, unlimited source

Then it came “Ohr Ein Sof” – infinite Light

Then it came the “Tzimtzum” – contraction of Light

What is Tzimtzum?

Tzumtzum explains how the worlds were created by Ein Sof. There was a contraction of the infinite Light, so that empty space occurs. In this empty space the creation could expand (the worlds) then the spiritual world was created and his physical manifestation. Free will of existing worlds was important aspect, as then the worlds started to live by “themselves” in the space-time. Olam (the world) is concealed, that means the spiritual realms are always hidden from the physical realm.

It is described that Ein Sof – infinite God – existed alone, when his will arose to create the worlds. Then he contracted himself in the center of His light. He restricted this light to fill the periphery of the central space, that became a vacuum, void, hollow space. This space was also away from the central point, where was the Ein Sof. This space was like white sheet on which to be written the new creation (olams).

After the Tzimtzum:

“He drew down from the Ohr Ein Sof (Light of infinite) a single straight line of light, from his light, surrounding the void from above to below, and it chained down descending into that void. In the space of that void, He emanated, created, formed and made the worlds.”

[ from Etz Chaim “Arizal” ] 

nina Lea-nour *