The Sepher Yetzirah, while not a true Qabalistic text, is extremely important to Qabalah. The first Qabalistic texts were written in the 12-13th centuries (eg The Zohar and Bahir), the Sepher Yetzirah is much older. It is said that the Sepher Yetzirah was written by Abraham, the first Jew. It is certainly likely that it was compiled between 100-600AD from the oral tradition of the Hebrew mystics. It was often stated that the text could be used to bring life to a golem, a creature made of earth, much as YHVH made Adam from the earth. The question many of you may be asking at this point is why should you care? The western occult world has a long tradition of Qabalistic research, with familiar names such as Eliphas Levi and Aleister Crowley being very interested in Qabalah and the related study of Gematria (the numerical meaning of words). For instance the twenty-two major trumps of the tarot have been associated with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet and the Tree of Life. The traditions from which Wicca developed, such as the Golden Dawn and OTO, had strong Qabalistic influences in their philosophies and the system of correspondances we use to build spells is also related to the correspondance system of the Sepher Yetzirah. The Sepher Yetzirah describes the creation of the Universe via the 10 Sephiroth (emanations) and 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet which make up the Tree of Life. The path of creation down the Tree of Life is often known as the lightening flash, by travelling back up the Tree of Life we can reunite ourself with the divine. Six versions of the Hebrew text were collected and printed in 1680. The oldest known version of the text is that by Egyptian born Saadia ben Joseph, written in 932AD. Despite its age this is one of the lesser used versions of the text, the version of this I have was translated into French in 1891 by M. Lambert and then into English in 1985. This is the longest text and appears very different from the other versions on the surface. However rearranging the verses shows that most of the material is the same, just reordered and repeated. Saadia also translated the Bible from Hebrew into Arabic. Commonly used in occult circles is the Long version as translated by Wm. Wynn Westcott in 1887. This is the version available on http://www.sacred-texts.com/. The version most popular among Jewish scholars is the Gra version as translated by Aryeh Kaplan. A fourth version is the Short version by Jewish scholar G. Scholem. The different versions of the book vary from 1300 to 2500 words in up to eight chapters. Chapter 1 - the first chapter is 12 verses in the Long version, 14 in the Gra and 4 in the Saadia. In all versions the first section is virtually identical. In/With thirty-two mystical/wonderous/mysterious Paths of Wisdom (Chokmah) engraved/did Yah, Jehovah Tzabaoth (Lord of Hosts), Elohi (God/Gods) of Israel, Elohim ChIIM (Living God), King of AyVLM (world/forever/universe), El Shaddai (Almighty God), RChVM (merciful/compassionate) and vChNVN (gracious), DM (blood) vNShE (exalted), ShvKN (dwelling in) AyD (eternity), QDVSh (apart/holy) ShMv (name), MRvM (high/in heaven) vQDVSh (and apart/holy), HVE (he/she/it) vBRE (created) his AyVLMV (world/universe) in three sepharim (books) - bSPR (text/writing), vSPR (number), vSPVR (words/communication). Ten Sefirot of nothingness and 22 foundation letters: three mothers, seven doubles and twelve simples. In most versions the first chapter tells of the covenant made with Abraham (circumcision sealing it) and elaborates on the ten Sephiroth. The ten Sephiroth are reckoned similarily in chapter four of the Saadia version. Sephirah means emanation. Ten Sephiroth … without end (SVP). Unfathomable/mysterious depth/abyss (AyMQ) of beginning (RAyShITh), depth of end (AChRITh), depth of good (TVB), depth of evil (RAy), depth of height (RVM), depth of beneath (ThChTh), depth of east (MZRCh), depth of west (MAyRB), depth of north (TzPVN), depth of south (DRVM). One: Spirit/breath of the living God (RVCh ALHIM ChIIM). Blessed (BRVK) and more than blessed the name of the living God (AL ChI) of the world/universe/forever (AyVLMIM). The voice (QVL) of breath/spirit (vRVCh) and words/speech (vDBVR), this is the holy breath/spirit (RVCh hQVDSh). Ruach (RVCh) means wind, breath, mind or spirit. It comes from a root word meaning to smell/odour. In occult terms it usually refers to the conscious mind. In the Saadia version the second sephirah is used to create the four directions and winds (east, west, north and south) of Heaven. Two: Breath from breath or air from spirit (RVCh M RVCh). He engraved/decreed (ChQQ) and divided (vChTzB) twenty-two foundation letters of the alphabet (AVThIVTh ISVD). Three mothers (AMVTh), seven doubles, twelve simples from out of (MHN) one breath (vRVCh). Three: Water (MIM) from breath/spirit (mRVCh). He engraved and divided with his thumb (BHN) the letters of the alphabet, from formless wasteland (ThHV) and void (BHV) came mud (RPSh) and clay (TITh). He engraved them like a kind of garden (AyRVGH), he hewed them like a kind of wall (ChVMH), he SIBBM (covered?) them like a kind of MAyZIBH. Four: Fire from water (ASh mMIM). He engraved and hewed the chair (KSA) of glory/honour (KBVD). The Seraphim (ShRPM), Ophanim (AVPNIM) and the holy living angels (vChIVTh hQVDSh vMLAKI) serve (ShRTh). From/with these three he founded (YSD) his dwelling (MAyVNV) as it is said “He makes his angels/messengers (MLAKIN) of winds/spirits (RVChVTh), his servants (MShRThIN) wrapped in fire.” The numbers five through ten are sealed (ChThM) with permutations of the letters Yod (I/Y/J), Heh (H) and Vav (V/U). These are all simple letters and represent the Father (Yod), the Mother (Heh) and the Son (Vav). These letters form the Tetragrammaton, the name of God, YHVH, often pronounced as Jehovah. There is some argument over what order the letters should be in, although five is always YHV. Below is the Gra version.
Five: sealed (ChThM) above and turned (vPNH) upward and sealed it with YHV. In summary the ten Sephiroth are 1:Spirit, 2:Air, 3:Water, 4:Fire, 5:above, 6:below, 7:east, 8:west, 9:south and 10:north. Some other more modern correspondances and names for the Sephiroth are...
The medieval archangel correspondances were very different, for instance Gabriel was attributed to Geburah which given the roots of the names (both from Gebur) makes sense. Gabriel means strength of God.
The primordial Torah (the first five books of the old testament) is associated with 4:Chesed, known also as Grace and the right hand of God. The written Torah with 6:Tifareth and the oral Torah or the Torah as interpreted in this world with 10:Malkuth. In the Tarot the four Aces are associated with 1:Kether, the four Kings/Knights with 2:Chokmah and also the Y of YHVH, the four Queens and the first H of YHVH with 3:Binah, the four Knights/Princes and the V of YHVH with 6:Tifareth, the four Pages/Princesses and the final H of YHVH with 10:Malkuth. Thus Binah is the first female principle and is also known as the womb to which we return, Binah is the Great Mother and the Celestial Queen. Malkuth is also female and often associated with the Shekinah (the presence/face of God as seen on Earth and/or the female aspect of God) or Sophia. Malkuth is said to sit upon the throne of Binah. Chapter Two of the Sepher Yetzirah tells how the twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet were taken and organised on a sphere and paired one with the other to form something out of nothing. An interesting way to meditate on the letters of the Hebrew alphabet is to pair them with each other and consider what the joint meaning might be. For instance Aleph (meaning Ox) and Bet (meaning enclosure/house) could be the primal energy enclosed in the body. AB means father in Hebrew, BA means to enter. Chapter two tells also how two great pillars were carved out of the air. If you are familiar with tarot you will know that in the High Priestess card there are two pillars, one black and one white. These are Boaz and Jachin, the two pillars in the temple of Solomon. The tree of life also has one black and one white pillar, the pillar of severity and the pillar of mercy.
Chapter Three describes the three mother letters which are always balanced with Aleph in the middle and form the elements, the seasons and the body (NPSh). On one side is the hand (KP) of right (ZKVTh), on the other the hand of guilt (ChVBH) and the tongue (LShVN) of decree/balance between them. Interestingly AMSh means truth and AShM means guilty. All things in the world sprang from the three mother letters - the three elements (air, fire and water) divided into the male/active and female/passive. Aleph is air, Mem is water and Shin is fire. AMSh in the Universe: the heavens (ShMIM) were made (BRA) from fire (ASh), the earth (ARTz) from water (MIM), air from breath/spirit (AVIR mRVCh) values (MKRIAy) between them. AMSh in the Year (bShNH): heat (ChVM) made from fire (ASh), cold (QVR) made from water (MIM) and the rainy season (vRVIH) from spirit (mRVCh) values between them. AMSh in the Body (NPSh): male (ZKR) and female (NQBH), head (RASh) and belly (BTN) and body/back (GVIH). The head was made from fire (ASh) and the belly was made from water (MIM) and the body/back from breath/spirit (RVCh) which values between them. Nephesh (NPSh) comes from a root which means to take breath/be refreshed. In Genesis it refers to both man and animal and the best translation might be “that which breathes” but could refer to the soul and/or body. In occult terms it often refers to the animal soul or unconscious desires. It is always specified in the Sepher Yetzirah that he made the male and female NPSh at the same time.
Chapter Four (Ch5 in Saadia) concerns the double letters which are Bet (B/V), Gimel (G), Dalet (D), Kaf (K), Peh (P/F), Resh (R) and Tav (Th). Each has two pronunciations, soft and hard. They represents the seven planets (ShBThAI, TzDQ, MADIM, ChMH, NVGH, KVKB and LBNH), the days of the week, the openings in the head and the qualities Life, Peace, Wisdom, Wealth, Beauty/Grace, Fruitfulness/Seed and Dominion and their opposites (Death, Strife/War, Folly, Poverty, Ugliness, Sterility/Desolation, Subjugation/Slavery). However which letter corresponds to which thing is greatly contested and varies from version to version. The tables below give the correspondances for the Golden Dawn, Gra, Long, Short and Saadia versions.
Chapter Five (Ch6 in Saadia) concerns the twelve simple or elemental letters which are Heh (H), Vav (V/U), Zain (Z), Cheth (Ch), Teth (T), Yod (Y/I/J), Lamed (L), Nun (N), Samech (S), Ayin (A/E/O), Tzaddi (Tz) and Qoph (Q). They were used to create the twelve constellations, the months of the year and the organs of the body. They correspond to sight, hearing, smell, speech, taste, coition/sexual love, action/work, motion, anger, laughter/mirth, thought/imagination, and sleep and to the directions or boundaries North-east, South-east, the East above, the East below, the North above, the North below, the South-west, the North-west, the West above, the West below, the South above, and the South below. The situation is not as confused as with the double letters, the constellations are TLH (lamb), ShVR (bull), ThAVMIM (twins), SRTN (crab), ARIH (lion), BThVLH (virgin), MAZNIM (scales), AyQRB (scorpion), QShTh (archer), GDI (young male goat), DLI (water bucket) and DGIM (fish plural). The months are NISN (Mar-Apr), AIIR (Apr-May), SIVN (May-Jun), ThMVZ (Jun-Jul), AB (Jul-Aug), ALVL (Aug-Sep), ThShRI (Sep-Oct), ChShVN (Oct-Nov), KSLV (Nov-Dec), TBTh (Dec-Jan), ShBT (Jan-Feb) and ADR (Feb-Mar). The Short and Saadia versions do not specify which behaviour belongs to which letter.
Chapter Six is the final chapter of all but the Saadia version which has eight chapters. Here we have the line PQDN bThLI vGLGL vLB which translates as “Watched over by Tali and the Wheel and the heart/mind/will/understanding of man.” What Tali means is much argued, it certainly seems to be a dragon or serpent of some sort and associated with the Universe as the Wheel represents the year level and the Heart represents the Nephesh or body level.
Tali in the Universe is like an enthroned king. It also talks about the importance of opposition and balance. This one opposite this one, made Elohim. Good (TVB) opposite evil (RAy). Evil opposite good. Good with good, evil with evil. Good tested with evil, evil tested with good. Goodness kept for the good and evilness kept for the evil. The letters are also positioned in opposition and balance. The three Mothers are one accusing, one advocating and one deciding between them. The seven Doubles are three opposite three with one deciding between them. The twelve Simples are split into threes, “Twelve stand in war: Three love, three hate, three give life and three kill.” In hierarchy, “One on three, three on seven, seven on twelve, And all are bound, one to another.” Chapter six then repeats the statement that God made a covenant with Abraham, “He made with him a covenant between the ten fingers of his hands - this is the covenant of the tongue, and between the ten toes of his feet - this is the covenant of circumcision, And He bound the 22 letters of the Torah to his tongue and He revealed to him His mystery. He drew them in water, He flamed them with fire, He agitated them with Breath, He burned them with the seven [planets], He directed them with the twelve constellations.” The Jews are the descendants of Abraham's great-grandson Judah, Abraham was born in Ur in Mesopotamia and travelled to Israel with his family, his son Isaac was born thanks to a miracle from God (Abraham's wife Sarah was previously barren). You may be familiar with his grand-son Jacob from the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Joseph was one of the sons of Jacob. Joseph's brother Judah was the ancestor of all the Jews. In summary the Sepher Yetzirah is a creation myth telling how Elohim made the Universe through ten sephiroth (emanations) and the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. We use its concept of correspondances to construct spells and can use the Tree of Life and the Hebrew alphabet as a meditative tool.
References:
|
The image to the left shows the most common modern layout illustrating the Sephiroth and paths on the
Tree of Life. You can see some other versions on 
