God Name: Shaddai El Chai
Planet: Moon
Titles: The Foundation, Treasure House of Images, Sphere of Illusion
Experience: Vision of the Machinery of the Universe
Symbols: Perfumes, sandals
Gods & Goddesses: Diana, Hecate, Shu, Sin (all Moon deities)
Associated with the Genitals
Yesod is the astral, etheric level of existance, which is why one of its
titles is the Foundation. It is in the Astral that thought-forms are fed and
gain in energy and substance until they are physically manifested in Malkuth.
Therefore, the Astral Plane is the Foundation for the Physical Plane. Yesod
is the mysterious, shadowy realm of the Moon where magickal energy is stored
and drawn upon. Until something is fully formed in Yesod, it will not make
its appearance here in the material world. As Ted Andrews says in Simplified
Magic "It is that level in which our mind can build the images that connect
us to all others in our life. Through this level we can increase our
understanding of the rhythms, fluctuations and tides of organic growth and
cyclic changes going on around us. It is here that we can touch our
subconscious, psychic and biological functions of life and awaken and
stimulate them into greater activity. It is at this level that we can build
thought forms and images that will pull increasing energy from the other
levels." Remember that when we work on the Tree the energy from each of the
ascending Sephiroth must be imaged and given form in Yesod to come to life
here.
The Magickal Image is a Beautiful, Erect Man. Beautiful means perfect in
form, Erect means with erect phallus - the generative force. Indeed the
genitals and reproductive systems of both sexes are connected to Yesod.
Shaddai El Chai has been translated as Almighty Living God. Interestingly,
Shaddai translates literally as Breasts or Mountains, El translates as God
(without gender affiliation so read Godhead or Divine One) and Chai is Life.
Think about these images and what they mean to you.
Yesod is called the Treasure-house of Images, meaning that the forms of all
archetypes, all thoughts, all emotions, all experiences are stored at this
level. It is also called the Sphere of Illusion, for while the images are
there, they are not given total life until they manifest here by our
activation of them.
The Experience of Yesod is the Vision of the Machinery of the Universe,
meaning a vision of understanding that the Universe works through a Divine
Plan and that you are a part of it. It does not mean that you will be privy
to understanding exactly how each and every minutia works but that there is
truly a rhythm, a cycle to all things.
Perfumes work through our emotional response on a subconscious level,
bringing into play forgotten memories stored in the subconscious, emotional
reaction and synapse stimulation. This is why we use incense and oils in
rituals - to contact directly the subconscious mind. Sandals symbolize
walking the Path to the inner Self.
All Moon Gods and Goddesses belong to the sphere of Yesod.
Suggested Exercises:
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