Intro to Kabbalah Pt 3

The Paths and Their Intelligences

This is a short introduction to how the first few paths on the Tree relate to the Sephira. Linking the paths and sephira together reveals the pattern of “No-Thing” becoming incarnate. As previously mentioned, Eliphas Levi united the tarot deck and the Tree. The major arcana cards are placed on the connecting paths of the Tree along with the Hebrew Alphabet and a particular intelligence is attributed to each path to describe its function. This is has engendered a form of working with the Tree called Pathworking. I will give a brief description of the first four cards and intelligences to give an idea of how it works. Each card and path has a specific energy called an Intelligence attributed to it.

11th Path

Trump 0 The Fool, The Scintillating, or Sparkling, Twinkling Intelligence

The Nothing from which all becomes, including the non physical world.

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12th Path

Trump 1 The Magician The Transparent Intelligence

This is where “Chazchazit” occurs. i.e. the splitting of consciousness of the Dreamer so that visions occur, the Dreamer is aware of observing 

the dream.

In other words God Beholding God.

13th Path

Trump 2 The High Priestess The Uniting Intelligence

This Path is on the middle Pillar of Equilibrium, which expresses the 

energies of both sides of the Tree and link the Above and the Below. 

14th Path

 Trump 3 The Empress The Illuminating Intelligence

This path is know as the garment of the Indwelling Light. She is The doorway through which Spirit takes form and manifests in matter. 

 In the above statements I have tried to show how the energies of the Sephira determine the energies of the Paths as simply as possible. It is the individual's choice how simply or complexly one engages with the Tree. However, I think a clear grounding in the simple tree is important in the first instance. Without it, one can be grappling with ethereal ideas 

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in an ungrounded, nebulous way which is not helpful at best and can be unhealthy at worse.

Da’ath        

 Da'ath is the non sephiroth. It is not numbered, it has no paths and it is considered to be a portal between the lower and upper realms of the Tree. It exists between the Supernal and Soul triads; when it is represented visually, a perforated horizontal line runs through it; this is known as the Abyss. It is considered to exist beyond the realms of human comprehension. However, when working with in microcosm, the Tree is applied to humanity, rather than the entirety of creation in general, then it is linked to the throat chakra, Vishuddi, called the Gateway of Time and Space. Vishuddi means “to purify” (Ozaniec 1990, Page 84). Although it is also included the Middle Pillar magical way of working with the Tree, there is very little information on its qualities or function. 

It is considered to be a portal to the Supernal Triad when working from Malkuth upwards when working the in microcosm (when applied to humanity). It is believed to be the point from which we lose our individuality and merge with the Godhead. The God name associated with it is Jehovah Elohim. 

In the magical tradition the god Janus is ascribed to Da'ath. Janus is the Roman God with two faces, he looks both in front and behind, January is named after him. The Planet Uranus is also ascribed to it. It is thought to be the sphere where manifestation is initiated; this makes sense, nothing can be realised on the lower planes without passing through Da'ath. It it called Knowledge, but until knowledge is realised by Da'ath it is beyond the realms of humanity. It signifies Creation through Knowledge, through Da'ath, knowledge of all things becomes accessible and bought into full consciousness. I.e. emerges from a state of abstraction to one where it is realised on the level of the intellect. When applied to the microcosm, in humanity, it’s energy can lead to fanaticism, it can bring one face to face with one's inner demons and give rise to apathy born of fear. On the other hand, it can lead to open mindedness, a willingness to face karma and give one the courage to express oneself.

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The ancient Kabbalists believed that our universe is at least the 4th attempt God made to create existence and the remains of the failed 3 attempts were relegated to Da'ath.(Gray chapter10). Gray believes that the refusal of humanity to see God as capable of mistakes or inaccuracies blind us to many truths. The contents of this “Divine Dustbin” return to negative existence, where it becomes the fertiliser for our current and future existence. Nothing is wasted. This is also the basis of Alchemy, transmutation. 

The Abyss is regarded as the veil behind which lies the Face of God; it also  serves to ensure that nothing other than perfection and purity reaches the Divine Realms. This corresponds to Vishuddi’s (the throat chakra) function as a purifier.  Mesukiel or Ridya is the name of the Angel that presides over this realm - the name means Veiler of God. This also corresponds to the Christian concept of Limbo, which Gray believes is based on the concept of Da'ath.

The Abyss if crossed from the top downwards, can also be regarded as the state between thought and action. This is an important point because it means that all thought is not realised, therefore limiting what we experience as reality. If all our thoughts were actualised, the physical plane would become overburdened and cease to exist.

 However practical Kabbalist practitioners suggest that paths can be created  through Qabbalistic practices connecting Da’ath to the surrounding sephira. This can be achieved by turning off one's inner dialogue. Will Parfitt says this is similar to Castaneda's shamanic practices. He cites one path that has been identified is from Da'ath to Binah. This path is regarded as corresponding to Chiron the wounded healer (Parfitt Kabbalah for Life 34). He believes that Da'ath corresponds to Nirvana, the 7th stage of Jhanic Meditation where human consciousness exists without an object, i.e. one's consciousness becomes one with the object that one is contemplating. Nirodh is the final stage of the Jhanas, when consciousness ceases. Mindfulness is the 2nd stage! (Goleman, Page 19)