In Qabalistic thought, the universe and all dimensions are comprised of what
is known as THE FOUR WORLDS or levels of existence and being. The top layer
or level is that of Atziluth, which is the Archetypal World, the World of
Pure Spirit which initiates and activates all the other worlds. Atziluth
corresponds with the first sound of Yod in Tetragrammaton, the secret Four
Fold Name of God. Atziluth is the level of Supreme God Force, the Primal
Fire which initiates the thought of creation and is associated with Kether,
the top-most Sephira.
It is in the 2nd world or level of Briah where the Creative World begins to
take the concept or seed of Creation conceived in Atziluth and prepares it to
make the journey into physical creation. This is the realm of the
Archangels, the overseers of the workings of the Universe. Briah is the Heh
of Tetragrammaton and is the Primal Water, where life begins to gather for
manifestation.
The 3rd World or level is called Yetzirah and it is known as the Formative
World where the subtle patterns behind actual physical matter are organized.
This is the realm of the Choirs of Angels who are set to various tasks by the
Archangels and is the Primal Air. Yetzirah is symbolized by the letter Vau
of the Four-Fold Name and is the main level where one travels during astral
projection and where the energy of ideas, art and magick gather their form
prior to physical manifestation.
The 4th World or level is where we exist daily and is called Assiah. It is
the Active World, the physical realm of sensation and manifestation and the
unseen yet manifest energies of matter and physics. Assiah is Primal Earth,
and the Final Heh of the Divine Name.
In previous articles, we have explored the Sephiroth of Malkuth and Yesod.
Let's continue our examination of the Tree of Life by taking a look at the
8th Sephira - HOD.
Hod is primarily associated with the ways that the concrete mind works -
intellectual functioning and conscious reason. The God Name in Hod is Elohim
Tzaboath meaning the Gods and Goddesses of the Hosts. Elohim has both
plurality and polarity implicit in it as it comprises both male and female
gender. Hod is the sphere where logical structures are made in the process
of finding and understanding a coherent unity in diverse aspects,
This relates to the Magical Image of Hod which is the Hermaphrodite, true
duality and polarity implicit in one form. The Hermaphrodite was the Child
of Hermes (intellect and reason) and Aphrodite (beauty and feeling).
The planetary energy associated with Hod is that of the planet Mercury which
corresponds to the Greek Hermes and the Egyptian Thoth-Tehuti the God of
writing and learning. Here at Hod is the foundation of Hermetic Philosophy.
Hermetic Philosophy is basically teaching through the Mind, through the
intellect rather than associative or intuitive learning. This is known as
the Orange ray of Magical and Occult Philosophy, as compared to the Green Ray
of Nature mysticism and art, and the Purple Ray of Devotional Mysticism
The Intellect or Reason at its highest level unlocks and interprets the
Higher Aspects of Intuition. "Genius" there is the point of
"Realization" - the Lightning Flash, often pictured as the light
bulb going off over your head. Here in Hod is where we reach intellectual
Knowledge of the Divine.
The Virtue and Vice of Hod are Truth and Falsity. Consider the way that
Reason can work from any assumption - what we strive for is that our
assumptions are based in Truth.
The Spiritual Experience of Hod is the Vision of Splendor, the splendor of
the order and workings of the Universe. And the symbols of Hod are The Names
of God and the Versicles by which we praise and connect with Him/Her.
Exercises for Hod:
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