THE PATHS OF WISDOM AND GATES OF UNDERSTANDING
(The 32 Paths of
the Sepher Yetzirah)
(From "The Holy
Kabbalah" by A. E. Waite)
In the Latin collection of Pistorius the marrow of philosophical Kabbalism
is presented in the form of certain terse propositions or dogmas, according
to one of which the ways of eternity are thirty-two--Viæ æternitatis
sunt triginta duo. These are the Paths of the SEPHER YETZIRAH, namely,
the ten SEPHIROTH and the [twenty-two] letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The doctrine concerning them is a dependency of this fundamental treatise,
but of much more recent date, and without even an imputed authorship. It
tabulates the special graces and illuminations which may be communicated
to man from above by means of these channels, and is not unimportant, because
it shows that Kabbalism, even on its most speculative and formal side,
had a practical application to the human mind, and was not a purely arbitrary
system. It is outside the province of this work to offer translations to
the student, but as in the present instance it could be difficult to summarize
the tabulation more briefly, I shall give it in extenso, premising
only that it has been translated more than once into English, and is indeed
available in a number of European languages.
I. The first path [KETER or Crown] is called
the Admirable Intelligence [Mystical Intelligence], the Supreme
Crown. It is the light which imparts understanding of the beginning which
is without beginning, and this also is the First Splendor. No created being
can attain to its essence.
II. The second path [CHOCHMAH or Wisdom] is
called the Illuminating Intelligence. It is the Crown of Creation and the
splendor of the Supreme Unity, to which it is most in proximity. It is
exalted above every head and is distinguished by Kabbalists as the Second
Splendor.
III. The third path [BINAH or Understanding]
is called the Sanctifying Intelligence and is the foundation of Primordial
Wisdom, termed the Creation of Faith. Its roots are AMeN. It is the mother
of Faith, which indeed emanates therefrom.
IV. The fourth path [CHESED--Mercy, Exuberance
or Generosity] is called the Arresting or Receiving Intelligence because
it arises like a boundary to receive the emanations of the higher intelligences
which are sent down to it. Herefrom all spiritual virtues emanate by the
way of subtlety, which itself emanates from the Supreme Crown. (It contains
all the holy powers, and from it emanate all the spiritual virtues with
the most exalted essences; they emanate one from the other by the power
of the primordial emanation of KETER.--Wescott)
V. The fifth path [GEBURAH--Justice, Limitation or
Severity] is called the Radical Intelligence, because it is more akin
than any other to the Supreme Unity and emanates from the depths of the
Primordial Wisdom (the primordial depths of Chochmah).
VI. The sixth path [TIPHERETH or Beauty] is called
the Intelligence of Mediating Influence (or of Separated Emanation),
because the flux of the emanations is multiplied therein. It communicates
this affluence to those blessed men who are united with it.
VII. The seventh path [NETZACH--Victory or Eternity]
is called the Hidden Intelligence, because it pours out a brilliant
splendor on all intellectual virtues which are beheld with the eyes of
the spirit and by the ecstasy of faith.
VIII. The eighth path [HOD--Glory or Reverberation]
is called the Perfect and Absolute Intelligence. The preparation of
principles emanates therefrom. The roots to which it adheres are in the
depths of the Sphere Magnificence, from the very substance of which it
emanates. (It is the means of the Primordial.)
IX. The ninth path [YESOD or Foundation] is called
the Purified Intelligence. It purifies the numerations, prevents and stays
the fracture of their images (or proves and corrects the designing
of their representations), for it establishes their unity, to preserve
them from destruction and division by their union with itself. (It disposes
their unity with which they are combined without diminution or division.)
X. The tenth path [MALCHUTH or Kingdom] is called
the Resplendent Intelligence, because it is exalted above every head and
has its seat in BINAH: it enlightens the fire of all lights and emanates
the power of the principle of forms. (It causes a supply of influence
to emanate from the prince of Countenances.)
XI. The eleventh path is called the Fiery Intelligence.
It is the veil placed before the dispositions and order of the superior
and inferior causes. Whosoever possesses this path is in the enjoyment
of great dignity; to possess it is to be face to face with the Cause of
Causes. (It is the essence of that curtain which is placed close to
the order of the disposition, and this is a special dignity given to it
that it may be able to stand before the face of the Cause of Causes.)
XII. The twelfth path is called the Intelligence of Light
(or Transparency), because it is the image of magnificence. It is
said to be the source of vision in those who behold apparitions.
XIII. The thirteenth path is called the Inductive Intelligence
of Unity. It is the substance of glory, and it manifests truth to every
spirit. (It is the consummation of the truth of individual spiritual
things.)
XIV. The fourteenth path is called the Illuminating Intelligence
(or Luminous Intelligence). It is the institutor of arcane, the
foundation of holiness.
XV. The fifteenth path is called the Constituting Intelligence,
because it constitutes creation in the darkness of the world. (or--It
constitutes the substance of creations in pure darkness.) According
to the philosophers, it is itself that darkness mentioned by Scripture
(Job xxxviii. 9), cloud and the envelope thereof.
XVI. The sixteenth path is called the Triumphant and
Eternal Intelligence, the delight of glory, the paradise of pleasure prepared
for the just.
XVII. The seventeenth path is called the Disposing Intelligence.
It disposes the devout to perseverance and thus prepares them to receive
the Holy Spirit. (It is the path of Life and Death.)
XVIII. The eighteenth path is called the Intelligence
or House of Influence, (by the greatness of whose abundance the influx
of good things upon created beings is increased) and thence are drawn
the arcane and the concealed meanings which repose in the shadow thereof.
XIX. The nineteenth path is called the Intelligence of
the Secret or of all spiritual activities. The fullness which it receives
derives from the highest benediction and the supreme glory.
XX. The twentieth path is called the Intelligence of
Will. It prepares all created beings, each individually, for the demonstration
of the existence of the primordial glory.
XXI. The twenty-first path is called the
Rewarding Intelligence (or the Conciliating Intelligence or the Intelligence
of Desire) of those who seek. It receives the divine influence, and
it influences by its benediction all existing things.
XXII. The twenty-second path is called the Faithful
Intelligence, because spiritual virtues are deposited and augment therein,
until they pass to those who dwell under the shadow thereof. (By it
spiritual virtues are increased, and all dwellers on earth are merely under
its shadow.--Westcott)
XXIII. The twenty-third path is called the Stable Intelligence.
It is the source of consistency in all the numerations.
XXIV. The twenty-fourth path is called the Imaginative
Intelligence. It is the ground of similarity in the likeness of beings
who are created to its agreement, after its aspects.
XXV. The twenty-fifth path is called the Intelligence
of Temptation or Trial, because it is the first temptation by which God
tests the devout.
XXVI. The twenty-sixth path is called the Renewing Intelligence,
for thereby God--blessed be He!--reneweth all which is capable of renovation
in the creation of the world (or all the changeable things which are
renewed by a new cycle of world creation).
XXVII. The twenty-seventh path is called the Natural
Intelligence, whereby the nature of everything found in the orb of the
sun is completed and perfected.
XXVIII. The twenty-eighth path is called the Active Intelligence,
for thence is created the spirit of every creature of the supreme orb,
and the activity, that is to say, the motion, to which they are subject.
XXIX. The twenty-ninth path is called the Corporeal Intelligence;
it informs every body which is incorporated under all orbs and it is the
growth thereof.
XXX. The thirtieth path is called the Collective Intelligence,
for thence astrologers, by the judgment of the stars and the heavenly signs,
derive their speculations and the perfection of their science according
to the motions of the stars.
XXXI. The thirty-first path is called the Perpetual Intelligence.
Why is it so called? Because it rules the movement of the sun and the moon
according to their constitution and causes each to gravitate in its respective
orb.
According to Eliphas Levi, this verse contains
the secret of the Great Work of Alchemy. The reason assigned is that path
thirty-one corresponds to the Hebrew letter SHIN (Sh), which represents
the magic lamp, or the light between the horns of Baphomet. "It is
the Kabbalistic sign of God or the Astral Light, with its two poles and
equilibrated center" The sun mentioned in the paragraph represents
gold, the moon silver, and the planets correspond to the other metals.-LA
CLEP DES GRAND MYSTÈRES, p. 234. It is needless to say that the
SEPHER YETZIRAH and its developments have nothing to do with Alchemy. As
regards the Great Work and Levi's pretended discovery of its secret, see
my annotated translation of his TRANSCENDENTAL MAGIC, pp. 345 - 347.
XXXII. The thirty-second path is called the Assisting
Intelligence, because it directs all the operation of the seven planets,
with their divisions, and concurs therein.
The comparatively modern accent of this tabulation will occur to the
reader, but its quotation was necessary to exhibit the intellectual profit
believed to follow from the study of Kabbalism, and still more that it
was in the last resource the understanding of man methodized, embracing,
as such, the entire circle attributed to human knowledge. After what manner
the Paths correspond to their various affirmed offices, how they communicate
the powers and graces which abide therein, and for what reason they bear
their distinctive titles must remain open questions. The thesis concerning
them constitutes a body of dogma, and is to be taken or left as such. The
Paths are those of the Tree and its SEPHIROTH.
A Most Unusual Presentation
on the Cabalistic Tree of Life
To Unique and Unusual
Esoteric Books!
The Sepher Yetzirah (The Book of Formation)
Introduction by W. W. Westcott
to Kabbalah
Index